In addition to memory, storage, and especially SSD prices are rising. This affects not only gamers but also companies that must cope with the increased costs. MSI is now changing its strategy and hitting budget gamers where it hurts the most.
What has happened? In a live report from Taipei on the United Daily News website on March 14, 2026, MSI manager Huang Jinqing explains how the current RAM crisis is affecting the company and what strategies they plan to pursue in the future.
First, due to supply shortages of NVIDIA graphics cards and high memory/SSD prices, gaming products are set to become up to 30 percent more expensive.
Therefore, according to the report, the company aims to pursue three goals:
- The focus will be on high-end products, with entry-level models being reduced by up to 30 percent.
- The transition from DDR4 to DDR5 motherboards and the establishment of long-term contracts with memory manufacturers for 3-5 years should also be achieved.
- Aiming for revenue growth of 50-100 percent in the server sector within five years to meet industry challenges.
According to manager Huang, the year 2026 will be the most difficult for the company since its founding.
Budget users need to be strong now
What does this mean for gamers? A price increase of 15 to 30 percent is unpleasant for all MSI product buyers, but the changing focus hits the entry-level segment doubly hard. According to the company, cheap models account for about 30 percent of its sales.
Not only are budget products like laptops, GPUs, and PCs going to become more expensive due to the general price increase.
But since the company wants to focus more on the mid- and high-end segments, according to MSI’s own statements, available budget options are expected to be reduced by about 30 percent. Almost a third of all gamers can expect additional restrictions, such as lower availability.
Which products are specifically affected is unclear, but the report states that MSI wants to focus on product lines such as the RTX-5060/5070 graphics cards. As a result, the current price situation of hardware is frustrating for many users. For some, it’s become so unbearable that they are already calling for a boycott of certain components.
How high are current hardware prices? Since the end of 2025, the costs for computer parts have been rising rapidly. First, it affected memory, but now other components like SSDs are following:
A basic DDR5-16GB RAM kit cost about 100 euros in mid-2025 and is now four times as expensive at around 400 euros (via Geizhals).
SSDs are also affected. A simple 1TB SSD from WD is currently about 150 euros, twice as expensive, as it cost around 70 euros four months ago (via Geizhals).
As a result, the entry-level segment is also affected. Users trying to assemble a budget gaming rig currently have no alternatives and must spend significantly more money on their components or forgo a purchase altogether. Even industry experts are already saying: RAM is currently unbelievably expensive; market researchers are sure it will stay that way for a while
