Macronix Exits ROM Chip Business
The Taiwanese memory maker will phase out ROM products by the end of fiscal 2026, a move that could tighten supply for Nintendo Switch cartridges.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Semiconductors
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Macronix, a longtime Nintendo hardware partner and major ROM memory producer, has announced it is exiting the ROM business entirely. The company plans to phase out ROM products by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.
Why it matters
ROM chips are key components in Switch and Switch 2 cartridges, so losing a major producer could strain supply for physical games. The exit appears tied to the broader AI-driven memory and storage shortage affecting the industry.
ROM products accounted for 26 percent of Macronix's business one year ago and 5 percent in the most recent quarter, a drop of 21 percentage points. Macronix is redirecting capacity to NOR flash and eMMC chips, while how Nintendo will source replacement ROM parts remains unaddressed.
The players
Macronix
Macronix is a Taiwanese semiconductor company and one of the main producers of ROM memory, with a long history as a Nintendo hardware partner.
Nintendo
Nintendo is the Japanese video game company behind the Switch and Switch 2 consoles, which rely on ROM-based cartridges for physical games.
Rohm Co.
Rohm Co., through its Oki Semiconductor unit, is a Japanese chipmaker that also supplies ROM parts to Nintendo.
Micron
Micron is a U.S. memory chipmaker that announced it is exiting the consumer memory business and shutting down its Crucial brand.
The details
Macronix announced the exit during its latest earnings call and is shifting manufacturing capacity toward NOR (flash) and eMMC memory. Nintendo also sources ROM parts from Rohm Co. (Oki Semiconductor), and Micron announced nearly a year ago that it is leaving the consumer memory business and shutting down its Crucial brand.
Timeline
Micron announced its exit from consumer memory nearly one year before publication.
Macronix ROM products represented 26 percent of its business one year before the third-quarter report.
Nintendo said last month it has no plans to ditch physical games.
Macronix plans to fully phase out ROM products by the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.
The Tech Race
Macronix's withdrawal follows Micron's decision of nearly one year ago to exit consumer memory and shut down Crucial, signaling a continued retreat of memory makers from consumer lines. Both moves are being driven by the AI-related surge in demand for memory and storage, which is redirecting manufacturing capacity away from legacy consumer products.
If ROM supply tightens, physical game prices could rise further or publishers may shift to Game-Key Cards instead of cartridges. Players who prefer physical copies could see fewer options on store shelves over time.
The takeaway
Supply shifts in niche memory components can ripple quickly into consumer prices and game formats. Readers who buy physical games may want to watch for changes in cartridge pricing and availability.
What happens next
Macronix plans to fully phase out ROM products by the end of the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, a date when the impact on cartridge supply should become clearer.
Further reading
Explore more on the Semiconductors beat to see how memory-market shifts are reshaping chip supply chains.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eurogamer.
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