Blaze Entertainment Hoards 2027 Chips as AI-Driven RAMageddon Upends Evercade Supply
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jul 20
Blaze Entertainment Hoards 2027 Chips as AI-Driven RAMageddon Upends Evercade Supply
1 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jul 20
Summary
Blaze Entertainment says it spent all available cash stockpiling cartridge chips, RAM and processors, and has already bought most of the cartridge chips it expects to need for 2027.
AI-driven demand for models and data centers is pushing memory prices higher and throwing component supply chains into chaos, with CEO Andrew Byatt saying costs are still worsening rather than stabilizing.
Evercade’s cartridge economics have been hit directly: 512MB chips now cost more than 1GB chips used to, while current 1GB parts are "very, very expensive," even as the company tries to keep game pricing consistent.
Valve engineers told FRVR retail shelves are trailing bulk-supply conditions by three to six months, suggesting consumers may not yet see the full impact of the component squeeze.
Byatt said the crunch is worse than the pandemic-era disruption that accompanied Evercade’s launch, calling it bigger than earlier freight-cost spikes and unlike anything the company has seen.