I had envisioned a project that combined nostalgia with modern gaming technology—a personal version of Valve’s Steam Machine crafted from traditional PC components, all nestled within my childhood PC case and powered by SteamOS. However, as time passed, the landscape shifted dramatically. The cost of RAM has surged to unprecedented heights, rendering even older PC components prohibitively expensive, with prices soaring to two, three, or even four times their previous values from just two months ago.
In this current climate, assembling any PC has become a daunting task, reminiscent of the pandemic-era GPU shortage, but perhaps even more challenging. Gamers are now on the hunt for alternatives to access their beloved PC game libraries. Regrettably, one of the few remaining options is the increasingly pricey cloud gaming subscription.
Initially, my strategy was to fill my build with second-hand, last-generation parts to secure the best deal possible. Yet, the reality is stark: even modest DDR4 RAM sticks of 16GB are now priced around 0, a steep rise from the they commanded just a month ago. Meanwhile, newer DDR5 sticks are priced at an astonishing five times that amount. The situation is poised to worsen, especially following Micron’s announcement that it would discontinue its consumer-facing brand, Crucial, to prioritize the surging demand for memory from AI data centers.
Micron held a commanding 25.7% share of the DRAM market before its exit, according to TrendForce data, while its closest competitor, Nanya, held a mere 1.1%. This shift is bound to further exacerbate the already inflated prices of computer components. So, what options remain for gamers who find themselves unable to upgrade their PCs in time or in need of new hardware?
Cloud gaming is getting better, little by little
For those with reliable home internet connections and a willingness to embrace subscription services, cloud gaming presents a viable alternative. Last month, Xbox reported a remarkable 45% increase in playtime hours on its Game Pass Cloud Gaming service year-over-year, primarily driven by cloud streaming on consoles, with a notable 26% uptick on “other devices.” While Xbox did not specify how much of this growth came from PC gamers, it’s clear that the service is gaining traction.
Earlier this year, Xbox raised the price of its Game Pass Ultimate subscription from to per month, while also extending cloud gaming access to lower-tier subscriptions at and for select titles. The service now supports game streaming at resolutions up to 1440p.
The increase in playtime may correlate with the release of popular titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on Game Pass, but it also reflects gamers’ pursuit of value. Even a pricier subscription service remains a fraction of the cost of high-end RAM, which can approach 0 for 64GB from certain brands. For PC gamers eager to play their existing games, Nvidia’s GeForce Now offers another option.
Nvidia has recently upgraded its subscription service to allow some games to run on the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, rather than the older RTX 4080 models. Access to this feature, along with 4K streaming, comes at a cost of per month. However, not all games are compatible with the RTX 5080, though Nvidia continues to expand its library, recently adding titles like Enshrouded and Fallout 76. Subscribers can also utilize the Install-to-Play feature to access additional games not listed as supported, albeit for an extra fee to rent server space.
Having extensively used both Game Pass and GeForce Now, it’s evident that streaming does not fully replicate the experience of native PC gaming. Even with fast internet and low latency, the visual quality of streamed games pales in comparison to those rendered directly on a device, a fact that seasoned PC gamers will recognize within moments of gameplay.
Will cheaper PC/console hybrids save us?
The escalating prices of PC components are likely to alienate a segment of gamers. While there is hope for the emergence of more affordable PC gaming devices akin to the Steam Machine, it’s unrealistic to expect that gaming-ready laptops will become significantly cheaper.
In a rapid turn of events, Crucial was actively promoting its gaming-ready SSDs just a day before announcing its brand discontinuation. The pace of change is swift, and the outlook appears grim. Market analysts at TrendForce note that Micron was the third-largest DRAM supplier globally, trailing behind SK Hynix and Samsung, both of which are pivoting their focus toward AI data center memory production. Transcend, another key player in consumer memory, has reported delays in NAND shipments from Samsung and Sandisk, leaving them without NAND supply since October.
“The situation worsened in Q4 due to increased demand from large data centers and hyperscalers driven by major cloud service providers’ expansion plans. All major chip manufacturers are prioritizing supply for these customers, which has led to price increases and extremely…”
These major tech companies have suggested that the surge in DRAM prices may persist well into 2028. According to Korean news outlet Hankyung, both Samsung and SK Hynix anticipate that their focus on AI data centers will continue through early 2028. While this may seem overly optimistic, it underscores the willingness of memory manufacturers to turn their backs on the PC industry, leaving consumers in search of alternatives sooner rather than later.
