The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X handheld gaming device has seen its price rise significantly in Japan amid ongoing RAM and storage shortages. The increase, from ¥139,800 to ¥169,800, equates to about $196 more in US dollars. This change highlights broader challenges in the gaming hardware market driven by AI demand.
The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, a high-end handheld gaming device, has increased in price in Japan to ¥169,800 ($1,109), up from its previous ¥139,800 ($913), according to reports from VGC and Otaku Souken. This represents a $196 hike, while the standard ROG Xbox Ally maintains its ¥89,800 ($585) price tag. No official explanation has been provided, but industry observers link it to persistent shortages of RAM and storage components, exacerbated by the AI boom.
These shortages stem from heavy investments by tech giants including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta in AI data centers, which require vast amounts of memory. As a result, consumer electronics like gaming hardware are facing supply constraints and rising costs. The ROG Xbox Ally X features faster RAM than the standard model, potentially contributing to its vulnerability.
The issue extends beyond Asus. Valve has updated its Steam Deck store page to warn that the Steam Deck OLED "may be out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages." All models, including the discontinued 256GB LCD variant, are currently unavailable in the US, though supplies persist in places like the UK. Valve previously delayed its new Steam Machines, originally slated for early 2026, citing similar problems, with expectations of higher prices upon release.
Broader impacts include reports from Bloomberg that Sony may push the PS6 launch to 2028 or 2029, and Nintendo is considering a price increase for the Switch 2 later this year. Securing devices like the Steam Deck is growing more difficult, underscoring the strain on the gaming industry as production slows and prices surge.
