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Macronix shifts production away from Nintendo’s Switch cartridges
Macronix is gradually phasing out ROM production, making Nintendo likely to lose a major supplier of Switch cartridges. The company is shifting its focus towards NOR flash memory for data centres, where demand is growing strongly.
In the third quarter of 2026, Macronix’s ROM revenue fell 39 per cent year on year, while NOR revenue rose 158 per cent and NAND revenue surged 768 per cent. Nintendo said in August that physical games made up 38.5 per cent of its game sales and has said it has no plans to abandon them; Macronix’s move follows Micron’s decision to close its Crucial consumer memory brand to focus on data centre demand.
In short
- Macronix is phasing out ROM production used for Switch cartridges.
- Its NOR revenue rose 158 per cent year on year in Q3 2026.
- Nintendo says physical games made up 38.5 per cent of game sales.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Macronix is responding to sharply stronger demand for NOR and NAND memory, and shifting capacity towards those products could support growth and serve expanding data-centre needs. A supplier’s commercial priorities are legitimate, and Nintendo’s continuing commitment to physical games gives it reason to find alternative cartridge suppliers or adapt its supply chain.
The case against
Phasing out ROM production could leave Nintendo more exposed to supply constraints for physical Switch games, which still account for a substantial share of sales and that the company says it intends to keep supporting. If other memory makers also prioritise data-centre demand, replacement suppliers may be harder to secure, potentially reducing manufacturing flexibility for Nintendo and its customers.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Nintendo is losing a Switch cartridge supplier”.