The ongoing RAM shortage affecting PC gaming has gone from bad to worse, as Micron announced it is ending its Crucial brand of consumer RAM and SSD storage devices, and focusing solely on developing products for AI and enterprise-level customers. The end of Crucial as one of the top consumer-level PC part brands will not be immediate, as Micron stated the transition will take place over the next few months.
The news came amid an ongoing RAM shortage and price hike that has shocked the PC gaming market to its foundation. With OpenAI announcing its plans to expand its AI server operations across the globe, RAM manufacturers dedicated portions of their manufacturing supply towards OpenAI’s projects, leaving consumers out in the cold. Since October, the prices of DDR4 and DD5 RAM kits have spiraled out of control, as 2×16 RAM kits that were once priced under $100 throughout most of 2025 have seemingly tripled as of this writing.
Micron Kills Off Crucial Consumer Product Line After 29 Years
With the price of DDR5 RAM kits continuing to climb at an alarming rate, one of the largest brands on the market is being discontinued after nearly three decades of service. On December 3, Micron announced that it was exiting the consumer market by February 2026, ending a 29-year run for Crucial’s brand of consumer RAM and SSDs. In short, Crucial-branded products will no longer be manufactured by Micron past that point. Additionally, Crucial RAM and SSD products will no longer be sold at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg once any remaining stock is cleared out past February 2026. Despite the exit, Micron said it would continue to offer warranty service and support for all Crucial products across the globe, though it is not clear how long that would last.
However, Micron itself is not going out of business. Instead, Micron will shift its focus towards enterprise-level customers and AI-based technologies, and cited the AI-driven growth in servers and data centers as the main reason for its sudden shift away from the consumer market. While the controversial subject of AI has drawn various comments from gaming industry figures concerning its growing usage, Micron stated that the move was to ensure its supply of RAM and other components would be enough to support the company moving forward. Additionally, Micron claimed that it would reduce the impact that its consumer market departure could have on its employees, and offer redeployment opportunities to any positions that open up as a result.
Crucial’s Sudden Demise Comes At The Worst Time For All Gamers
Micron’s decision to exit the RAM and SSD consumer markets came at the worst possible time for gamers amid the ongoing RAM price surge and shortages. With Crucial’s exit, a key player in RAM and SSD manufacturing will leave consumers with fewer options to pick from. Plus, the impact of Crucial’s demise and the RAM shortage will have an impact on all gamers, not just PC users. Given that the Steam Machine has yet to announce its price, Valve confirmed that it would not be a subsidized price that customers will pay once it arrives in 2026. Ergo, the price of the Steam Machine could be higher than what gamers expect.
Additionally, the RAM shortage could force Microsoft to make another price increase on Xbox consoles, despite two price jumps throughout 2025. According to rumors throughout the gaming industry, Microsoft did not make preparations for the ongoing RAM shortage, meaning Xbox Series X/S consoles could jump up sometime in 2026. While the PS5 is not expected to endure another price increase in the short term, the loss of Crucial as an option for consumers will be felt across the entire gaming and tech industries.
Source: Micron
