During a Q3 2026 earnings call, Macronix chairman and CEO Miin Wu confirmed the company is phasing out ROM production to prioritize data center capacity. The move follows a sharp 39 percent decline in ROM revenue, contrasted by aggressive growth in other memory sectors. As chip prices continue to climb, the supplier is prioritizing clients chasing NOR flash solutions, signaling a difficult transition for console manufacturers reliant on legacy cartridge formats.
Macronix shifts focus as Nintendo faces cartridge supply crunch
With revenue from NOR flash memory surging 768 percent year-over-year, Macronix is pivoting away from the ROM production that powers Nintendo Switch cartridges. The supplier’s retreat toward high-demand data center components leaves Nintendo scrambling to maintain its commitment to physical game media in an increasingly digital-first industry.
Nintendo maintains a unique position among major gaming firms, with physical titles accounting for 38.5 percent of its total software sales as of August. While competitors like Sony have already outlined plans to phase out physical discs by early 2028, Nintendo leadership has insisted they have no plans to abandon physical media. This supplier exit mirrors a broader industry trend, following Micron’s decision to sunset its Crucial consumer brand to satisfy the insatiable appetite for AI-driven data center infrastructure.
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