Sony halts memory card sales: semiconductor shortage bites deep
Tokyo – Sony has abruptly suspended orders for CFexpress and SD memory cards, a move signaling the escalating severity of the global semiconductor shortage and its impact on consumer electronics. The pause, announced late Friday, extends until March 2026, leaving photographers, videographers, and gamers scrambling for alternatives.
A prolonged supply chain crisis
The Japanese arm of the electronics giant cited an inability to meet current demand as the primary reason for the suspension. A terse statement on Sony’s website offered little reassurance: “We have decided to temporarily suspend the acceptance of orders until March 2026.” The company indicated that a resumption date is contingent on the evolving supply chain situation, with updates posted on the product information pages – a frustratingly vague promise for customers already facing delays.
The affected cards include a range of CFexpress Type A (CEA-G1920T, CEA-G960T, CEA-G480T, CEA-G240T), CFexpress Type B (CEB-G480T, CEB-G240T), and SDXC/SDHC (SF-G256T, SF-G128T, SF-G64T, SF-M512T, SF-M256T, SF-M128T, SF-E256, SF-E128A, SF-E64A) models—essentially, Sony’s entire professional and enthusiast lineup.
But the memory card freeze isn’t happening in a vacuum. Sony’s recent price hikes for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal—attributed to “continued global economic pressures”—highlight a broader fragility in the company's operations. The RAM and storage shortages are now rippling through Sony’s entire product ecosystem.
The most concerning development? Industry whispers suggest the next generation of PlayStation consoles, initially projected for a 2028-2029 release, are facing significant delays. Sources within Sony's hardware division, speaking anonymously, indicate that securing sufficient memory and processing power remains a critical hurdle.
The situation underscores a deeper systemic problem. While the automotive industry has garnered significant attention regarding chip shortages, the consumer electronics sector—particularly those reliant on high-performance memory—is quietly feeling the squeeze. This isn't a temporary blip; it’s a protracted crisis that will reshape the technological landscape for years to come. The wait for a new Sony memory card, or even a next-gen console, could be considerably longer than anyone anticipated.
The company’s apology feels almost perfunctory given the scope of the disruption. Sony’s predicament serves as a stark reminder: the digital world runs on silicon, and when the silicon tap slows, everything else grinds to a halt.