From casual hobby to luxury investment: memory costs hit PC gaming hard

June 28, 2026 — 11:00am

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Two years ago, it seemed we were heading into a golden era of accessible, inexpensive video games on open platforms, whether you wanted to play at home or on the go. Devices like the Steam Deck showed that PC gaming could be streamlined like a Nintendo Switch, while publishers acknowledged that making their wares available to everyone was a better move than locking them into a single ecosystem.

Then everything went pear-shaped.

An unforeseeable demand for AI data centres has squeezed component-makers out of manufacturing queues, driven prices through the roof and shifted business models almost overnight.

In announcing price adjustments to some of its machines last week, Microsoft said the amount it pays for memory and storage had increased by 2.5 times, and that it expected another doubling by mid next year. Microsoft said that in the US, the price of its Xbox Series S will jump about 20 per cent from August, suggesting similar hikes are on the way here.

Apple’s Tim Cook has said he has never seen anything like it. Last week Apple also raised the price of hardware including MacBooks, iMacs and iPads by about 20 per cent. And the price rises hit even harder for companies and individuals who don’t have the bargaining power of a tech giant. PC gaming is cheaper than console in the long run because of the broad ecosystem of competing stores, and because your purchases can move to any device. But, given current prices, are the latest developments still worth a look?

Handheld gaming PCs: power in your palms

Moving PC games away from the monitor, keyboard and mouse and into your train commute was a pipe dream just a few years ago, and while the experience is still not perfect, it’s been a revelation for those of us with big digital libraries. It’s also an excellent starter platform if you don’t mind a learning curve. But the latest local price tags are a tough pill to swallow.

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