Lenovo Legion Go 2 suddenly costs $650 more as RAMageddon lays waste to gaming hardware

The price of Lenovo's Legion Go 2 handheld has soared, now reaching $1,999 for the high-end model with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, compared to $1,349 just six months ago. This jump, sparked by the ongoing global RAM shortage, makes it nearly twice as expensive as competitors like the $999 Microsoft/Asus Xbox Ally X, which features the same processor.

RAM Shortage Impacts Gaming Devices

The recent spike in memory prices, widely called "RAMageddon," isn't just hitting Lenovo. The gaming industry as a whole is feeling the squeeze. Sony recently increased the PlayStation 5's price by up to $150, and Ayaneo canceled its Next 2 handheld because it became "unsustainable" to build due to memory costs. GPD, another handheld maker, also raised prices but still offers the Win 5 with 32GB RAM and 2TB storage for $2,500. Even Valve delayed its Steam Machine and Steam Frame, citing the RAM shortage as a key reason.

Uncertain Future for Handheld Pricing

Other manufacturers, like Asus, have stated that no price hikes are planned in the US for their gaming handhelds—at least for now. However, as RAM prices continue to climb, more increases could be on the horizon for the entire market, including anticipated consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 6.

Why Is This Happening?

The surge in memory prices is being felt in every corner of consumer electronics, not just gaming. Devices reliant on large amounts of RAM face particularly steep cost increases, resulting in higher prices or, in some cases, cancellations of new product launches.

For now, buyers will need to brace for higher costs when looking for the latest gaming hardware. The days of modest $100 price bumps seem long gone in the wake of this memory crisis.

Read the original story on The Verge.