Gaming hardware costs rise amid AI semiconductor demand

The gaming industry continues to face rising hardware costs driven by increased demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, which competes for the production capacity of DRAM and NAND components. Major manufacturers are responding with price increases, and Sony has reportedly implemented a 30 percent price increase for the PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro.

In South America, these semiconductor shortages are causing acute regional price volatility. In Argentina, the price of RAM modules has increased nearly fivefold since July 2025, as manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron redirect capacity toward data centers and AI servers. Projections indicate further price increases of 40% to 50% in the third quarter of 2026. In response to high investment requirements, consumers in Peru are being encouraged to adopt phased purchasing strategies, prioritizing core components like laptops or consoles over peripherals. Some financial institutions, such as Banco Ripley, are offering interest-free installment plans to assist with these costs.

In the handheld market, ASUS is launching the ROG Xbox Ally X20 with an OLED screen and AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme silicon, though it faces scrutiny over its $1,299 price point.

Market trends show shifting consumer behaviors and technical challenges. PC gaming remains strong, though 64% of playtime in 2025 involved titles released before 2019. The PC segment also faces hurdles regarding software optimization and high system resource consumption from operating systems like Windows 11. Regional shifts continue in Chile, where notebook sales through online marketplaces rose by 81.1% in value, contrasting with declines in direct brand-to-consumer sales.