Shortages in PC hardware are becoming harder to ignore, with multiple retailers reporting empty shelves, even in Japan’s biggest electronics hub.
Despite its widespread unpopularity amongst the gaming community, you’re only going to see video game publishers triple down on their plans to use AI tech this year.
Even if you ignore the ethical and environmental concerns of generative AI, with some games companies having already cut staff, the world’s obsession with AI has had a very tangible effect on the availability of hardware.
AI tech requires a lot of memory, which means companies eager to use it are hoovering up PC components, which has lead to severe stock shortages. Things were already looking bad at the end of last year, but one retailer is so low on stock that it’s begging people to sell their old gaming PCs.
It isn’t a small-time store either. Sofmap Gaming is a major electronics and gaming retailer in Japan and according to a photo it shared recently on its official X account, its shelves are practically empty.
‘Gaming PCs, even used ones, are genuinely out of stock right now, this is it,’ the post reads. ‘If you do replace it, please do sell your gaming PC to our company. We’re taking them in at quite a good price.
‘Whether it’s a gaming desk or a laptop, or even a regular non-gaming one, we generally buy pretty much any PC.’
That doesn’t sound very enticing as a purchase, but it speaks to how desperate Sofmap Gaming is if it’s looking for any sort of stock whatsoever.
A report by Itmedia adds that other retailers in Akihabara – which is Japan’s biggest hub for gaming and electronic goods – are suffering from supply issues, with any new stock of graphics cards that come in almost immediately selling out.
The report adds that there have been very few instances of panic buying, but that doesn’t change how there’s clearly not enough stock to go around.
While these reports are coming out of Japan, which is traditionally one of the weakest markets for gaming PCs, that doesn’t mean the problem isn’t occurring elsewhere.
During Black Friday, PC owners already noticed that not only was there little in the way of offers on new graphics cards, but everything was significantly more expensive, even though Black Friday is a time for discounts.
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These shortages are likely to remain for as long as the AI bubble continues to grow, with PC gamers a very low priority for companies like Nvidia at the moment.
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Console owners won’t remain unaffected either. The PlayStation 6 and next Xbox are widely assumed to be launching in 2027 or 2028, but last month it was reported that the shortages have console manufacturers skittish and that those launch plans may end up being delayed.
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