2026 Is Great for PC Gaming If You Already Have Hardware

The 2026 RAM crisis is driving up RAM, SSD, CPU, and GPU prices, making new PC and console hardware increasingly unaffordable.

Valve and Microsoft warn that memory costs are likely to keep rising, with broader shortages pushing up component prices across the board.

A class action targeting Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix could eventually help, but any relief is likely to be slow.

For now, the best move for players is to keep using existing systems, since game optimization remains surprisingly strong on modest hardware.