Micron posted record Q3 earnings but warned the DRAM shortage will linger. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra told investors that customers still face “considerable time” before memory supply eases, a view echoed by Korean media and OEMs like Lenovo that expect price hikes to become the norm. He projected a gradual industry recovery by 2028, though no clear timeline exists for demand to catch up.

To close the gap, Micron unveiled two major projects in 2027. A New York megafab will break ground this year and aim for completion in early 2029, expanding domestic capacity. Simultaneously, the company plans to acquire a PSMC fab in a $1.8 billion deal, targeting meaningful DRAM output by late 2027 and helping offset AI‑driven demand.

The prolonged scarcity forces PC builders, console makers and Steam Machine vendors to absorb higher component costs. Upcoming Xbox Helix hardware, Sony’s PS6 and PS6 Portable, and Valve’s Steam Machine are all expected to carry inflated price tags, squeezing profit margins and passing steep bills onto consumers. Price pressures are likely to persist until supply catches up.

With no clear horizon for a supply‑demand balance, the DRAM market will keep driving up system prices across the board. Buyers should budget for higher costs on new PCs and next‑gen consoles, while manufacturers race to expand capacity through the megafab and the PSMC acquisition.