Macronix quits ROM chips used in Nintendo Switch 2 cartridges

Why Macronix is walking away

According to analyst David Gibson, ROM memory made up only 5% of Macronix's revenue in the third quarter of 2026, a drop from the previous year. On a call with shareholders, the company confirmed it will stop developing these products and redirect its resources to NOR and eMMC memory. Macronix said its production capacity is limited, so it preferred to invest in memory types that earn more than Nintendo's cartridges.

It is not alone in shifting focus during the current memory crunch. Crucial has stopped selling RAM and SSDs after almost 30 years in the sector, as Micron concluded that selling that memory to AI companies is more profitable than selling it to consumers.

What it means for Switch and Switch 2 cartridges

There is no immediate threat to Nintendo's physical format. The company works with other suppliers able to produce this type of memory for its game cards, which should secure cartridge production in the short and medium term. The risk is a longer-term one: losing a key partner could have negative effects down the line.

Nintendo is the only major games company still betting firmly on physical media, even as analysts say digital sales keep gaining ground and already account for more than 60% of software revenue. Some believe Macronix's exit could speed up the adoption of alternatives such as Game-Key Cards, which hold a download key instead of the full game on the cartridge.

A wholesale abandonment of physical games looks unlikely, given the strong revenue Nintendo still earns from its key franchises. A more plausible path, the analysis suggests, is a model like Xbox's, which keeps discs but pairs each one with a single digital license.