MSI gaming hardware prices might jump as high as 30% as co-founder calls 2026 “the most severe year” ever

Building a gaming PC has become much more difficult over the past few months. The ongoing AI boom has pushed demand for key components like RAM, SSDs, and GPUs to new highs. Now, it looks like the situation could get even worse, as MSI is warning that prices for its gaming products may rise significantly in 2026.

According to comments made during an investor briefing, MSI’s general manager and co-founder, Huang Jinqing, said the company expects gaming hardware prices to increase by 15% to 30% this year. The main reason behind the increase is a severe shortage of memory chips and a limited supply of GPUs from Nvidia.

It’s a tough year for PC hardware manufacturers

With much of the available memory production being redirected toward AI infrastructure, companies that make consumer gaming hardware are finding it harder to secure the components they need.

Huang described the current situation as extremely challenging for the industry. In fact, he reportedly told investors that 2026 could be the most difficult, challenging, or “severe” year since MSI was founded way back in 1986. The company estimates that Nvidia GPU supply alone is short by about 20%, while the broader PC market could shrink by 10-20% this year.

Memory prices are one of the biggest problems; a 16GB memory module that cost around $40 last year now sells for roughly $170 to $180, and in some cases has even reached $200. This dramatic increase is forcing companies to rethink how they design and price their products.

To deal with the situation, MSI is making several changes to its strategy. The company plans to reduce its low-end gaming products, which previously made up about 30% of its lineup, and instead focus more on mid-range and high-end hardware. This includes systems and components built around GPUs like the RTX 5060 and RTX 5070.

MSI is also adjusting its motherboard designs due to the price difference between memory types. Previously, most of the company’s boards supported DDR5 memory, but because DDR5 has become so expensive, MSI is shifting toward designs that support DDR4 instead. 

Even though the company expects overall sales volume to decline, MSI believes higher prices could still lead to revenue growth. The company says many customers are already willing to pay more for hardware, especially if they believe prices could continue rising in the future.