Macronix to Phase Out ROM Production Used in Switch Cartridges

On November 4, 2026, Macronix said it would gradually wind down ROM production, affecting a major source of memory chips used in Nintendo Switch cartridges. The Taiwanese company is redirecting its focus toward NOR flash memory for data centers, where demand has risen sharply. It plans to stop introducing new ROM products, and the third quarter of 2026 was its final quarter reporting ROM sales separately.

Macronix’s ROM revenue fell 39 percent year over year in the third quarter, while NOR revenue climbed 158 percent and NAND revenue rose 768 percent. ROM accounted for 5 percent of company sales, down from 26 percent a year earlier. Chief executive Miin Wu said demand for data-center NOR was strong and customers were seeking more capacity. The company also expects chip price increases to continue.

The shift does not affect Macronix’s NAND business, which is used in Switch 2 cartridges, and the company is not the only supplier involved in making physical Switch cartridges. Nintendo has said it has no plans to abandon physical games. It said in August that physical titles made up 38.5 percent of its game sales, while digital sales accounted for the remaining 61.5 percent.