Nintendo faces supply chain shift as memory provider Macronix pivots
Macronix, a key manufacturer of ROM components for Nintendo Switch cartridges, is reducing production to focus on data center memory hardware.
Nintendo is set to lose a significant supplier for its console cartridge components. Macronix, a Taiwanese memory manufacturer, confirmed during its third-quarter 2026 earnings call that it will gradually phase out its Read-Only Memory (ROM) production line.
The strategic shift follows a decline in ROM revenue, which dropped 39 percent year-over-year in Q3 2026. Conversely, the company reported substantial growth in other segments, with NOR flash memory revenue rising by 158 percent and NAND memory revenue surging by 768 percent.
Macronix Chairman and CEO Miin Wu stated that the company is reallocating resources to meet high demand for NOR flash technology within the data center sector. As Nintendo continues to manage the production cycle of its current hardware, the loss of this supplier necessitates a transition in its manufacturing logistics for physical game media.