The chip shortage currently affecting all parts of gaming is not likely to let up until the end of next year, according to Toshiba.
In a new report from Bloomberg, the publication writes that Toshiba Corp., one of the major companies that creates power-regulating chips found in graphics cards, gaming consoles, and more, says the chip shortage will likely continue through the end of 2022.
IGN previously reported on this chip shortage, citing that Intel believes it could drag on into 2023, and this new Bloomberg report seems to reaffirm this timeline. Toshiba director, Takeshi Kamebuchi, told Bloomberg that "the supply of chips will remain very tight until at least September next year." Kamebuchi also said that some of Toshiba's customers won't be fully served all of the chips they need until 2023.
However, Toshiba doesn't mention which customers, so perhaps Sony and Microsoft won't find themselves waiting until 2023 to get the chips they need for their PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Kamebuchi cites material shortages and a demand that's constantly outpacing chip output as reasons for Toshiba's inability to fulfill orders. With this chip shortage possibly lasting until 2023, Toshiba is planning to invest $545 million in its production between now and 2024 to boost the output of its power semiconductors, according to Bloomberg.
"We consider which customer faces the most severe situation, such as the risk of the whole production line halting or the business getting obliterated without the supply of chips," Kamebuchi told Bloomberg. "Game console makers are among the customers making the strongest demands and I'm sincerely sorry for their frustration as none of them have a 100% satisfaction."
And so the struggle to easily purchase a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, or new PC graphics card continues.
Check out this story about how Intel thinks the chip shortage affecting every part of gaming could drag into 2023 in the meantime. Read about how the Biden administration signed an executive order pledging to review the supply chain issues that have caused these consoles to remain scarce after that.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
