Switch 2 cartridge manufacturer exits the market

Nintendo may be left without one of its key memory suppliers for cartridges. Macronix will direct all new investments into eMMC and NAND.

Macronix, one of Nintendo’s long-standing suppliers, is gradually phasing out ROM production and halting the development of new chips, which could impact the future of physical cartridges for Switch and Switch 2.

This was reported by industry analyst David Gibson, who examined the company’s latest financial results. Macronix manufactures memory chips for game cards across both generations of Nintendo consoles. In the third quarter of 2026, this product segment accounted for only 5% of revenue, compared to 26% for the same period last year. Year-over-year sales of ROM chips dropped by 39%, although they grew by 9% compared to the previous quarter.

The chairman of Macronix attributed the decision to limited manufacturing capacity. The company intends to focus on the production of NOR and eMMC memory. Of the planned 37.8 billion New Taiwan dollars in investments, none will be directed toward ROM production: all funds will be allocated to the development of eMMC and NAND. The third quarter will also be the last time Macronix reports ROM sales separately.

Gibson believes that Switch 2 cartridges will not disappear immediately, as Nintendo has other suppliers. However, the situation could accelerate the shift toward digital distribution and Game-Key Cards. Between April and June, the share of digital sales had already reached 61.5%, compared to 59.3% a year earlier.