One of Nintendo’s Switch and Switch 2 cartridge manufacturers is exiting the business, which could make physical games more expensive

Macronix, a major semiconductor manufacturer and longtime supplier of ROM chips for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 cartridges, has announced it will cease ROM production by the end of Q3 fiscal year 2026. The decision was revealed during the company’s latest earnings call, as reported by analyst David Gibson.

The move reflects a significant business pivot at Macronix. ROM products, which represented 26 percent of the company’s revenue just one year ago, have declined to only 5 percent of quarterly sales—a 39 percent year-over-year drop. Meanwhile, more lucrative data center memory products are surging: NOR flash memory revenue rose 158 percent, while NAND memory revenue jumped 768 percent.

This development poses challenges for Nintendo’s commitment to physical game distribution. While Macronix is not Nintendo’s only ROM supplier, losing a major manufacturer could create supply chain constraints and potentially increase production costs for physical Switch games. Industry observers suggest the move may accelerate the broader shift toward digital-only platforms, particularly as Sony has already announced plans to phase out physical disc production by 2028.

Sources

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