Nintendo losing a key Switch cartridge supplier as Macronix shifts ROM production to data centers
Macronix shifts its production focus
Macronix said during a recent quarterly earnings call that it would gradually phase out ROM production. The company plans to concentrate instead on NOR flash memory for data centers.
In Q3 2026, Macronix’s ROM revenue fell 39 percent from a year earlier. NOR revenue rose 158 percent, while NAND revenue increased 768 percent year over year. Chairman and CEO Miin Wu said demand for data center NOR was “very robust,” and said customers were seeking more capacity and NOR solutions. The company also reportedly expects chip price increases to continue.
Physical games remain important to Nintendo
Nintendo has said it has “no plans” to abandon physical games. In August, the company reported that physical titles accounted for 38.5 percent of its game sales, a larger share than at companies such as Capcom.
Sony, by contrast, has announced a plan to stop producing physical game discs starting in January 2028. Macronix’s planned departure from ROM production could matter to Nintendo as it continues supporting physical releases.
A wider shift toward data centers
Macronix’s move follows Micron’s decision nearly a year earlier to close Crucial, its consumer RAM and SSD brand. Micron said it was turning its attention to meeting demand from AI data centers.
The figures point to growing demand for memory used in data centers, alongside declining ROM revenue at Macronix. The company’s production shift leaves Nintendo facing the loss of a major supplier for Switch cartridges.
Key points
- Macronix plans to gradually phase out ROM production and prioritize NOR flash for data centers.
- Macronix’s Q3 2026 ROM revenue declined 39 percent year over year.
- Nintendo says it has no plans to stop selling physical games.
- Physical titles accounted for 38.5 percent of Nintendo’s game sales in August.