(PR) Memory Price Surge Squeezes Game Console Margins; 2026 Shipment Forecast Revised Downward

TrendForce’s latest report states that rising memory prices have significantly increased BOM costs in consumer electronics, leading brands to hike retail prices and dampening market demand. After reducing its 2026 shipment forecasts for smartphones and laptops earlier in November, TrendForce has also downgraded its 2026 forecast for game console shipments—from an initial YoY decline of 3.5% to 4.4%.

TrendForce notes that the swift rise in memory prices is affecting a range of consumer devices, including game consoles. Historically, game console manufacturers earned the majority of their profits from software and subscription services. As such, they depended significantly on incremental retail price reductions and occasional promotions to expand their user base.