PGC NEWS

The global chip shortage continues to plague the electronics industry, and gaming consoles are no exception. According to a recent Bloomberg report, the supply of these highly sought-after devices will likely remain constrained until at least late next year.

Toshiba’s semiconductor division director, Takeshi Kamebuchi, painted a stark picture of the ongoing situation. “The supply of microchips will remain very tight until at least September of next year,” he stated. “In some cases, we may not be able to fully meet customer demand until 2023.” This statement underscores the severity of the chip shortage and its impact on the gaming industry. The Bloomberg report specifically highlighted gaming consoles as being particularly affected by this scarcity.

Gaming consoles

The electronics industry has grappled with component shortages for 18 months, a situation exacerbated by the pandemic. COVID-19 disruptions to essential supply chains, coupled with a surge in demand for gaming devices due to lockdowns and social distancing measures, have created a perfect storm of scarcity.

To mitigate the impact of the chip shortage, some console manufacturers have allowed assembly partners to modify circuit board designs to reduce the need for less critical components. Sony, for example, released a revised PlayStation 5 model, the CFI-1102A, which weighs approximately 300g less than the original. This redesign is likely a strategic move to optimize component usage and streamline production.

Nintendo has also acknowledged the impact of the semiconductor shortage on its Switch console production. The company has struggled to meet the ongoing high demand for the Switch, further highlighting the widespread nature of this industry challenge.

Currently, popular consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, along with Nvidia graphics cards, are facing significant supply constraints. These products frequently sell out within minutes of becoming available, leaving many consumers frustrated and empty-handed.

The prolonged chip shortage paints a challenging picture for the gaming industry. While manufacturers are exploring various strategies to alleviate the impact, the ongoing constraints suggest that consumers will likely continue to face difficulties acquiring new consoles and graphics cards for the foreseeable future. The expectation is that supply will slowly improve throughout 2023, but a full recovery is still uncertain.