Memory Shortage Turns Absurd as Thieves Only Steal DDR5 RAM from South Korean Office

If you’ve been catching up with tech news lately, you must be aware of the situation around the memory crunch. Well, it now seems the DDR5 memory shortage is no longer just a PC builder’s headache; it’s now showing effects across the hardware industry, including gaming PCs to next-generation consoles.

Since September 2025, the price of DDR5 RAM prices have reportedly jumped four times. What once cost around $200 now sells for $800 or more in some markets. That steep rise has turned high-end memory into a scarce and expensive component, which has now created a new challenge for manufacturers and consumers alike.

DDR5 RAM shortage sparks targeted hardware thefts

What’s worse is that the DDR5 RAM’s situation has reportedly also raised security concerns. As first reported by TechRadar, reports coming out of South Korea suggest that “an intruder broke the tempered-glass side panels of two desktop computers but ignored desk drawers and other office property.” That’s enough to hint that the targeted DDR5 RAM thefts suggest that memory has become valuable enough to attract organized resale activity.

Interestingly, the thieves made off with only four Micron DDR5-5600 32GB CL46 memory modules, a lineup Micron has since pulled from the consumer market. Not to mention, that’s an unusual development for what was once considered a low-risk component.

For PC gamers, the impact is immediately visible. Reports from late December 2025 suggest that major console brands like Sony and Microsoft have delayed their next console due to similar reasons. That’s not all; the existing console may also see a price hike in the coming days. However, neither of the companies has confirmed any price hike, at least this year. On the Nintendo side, the Switch 2 is reportedly already dealing with higher-than-expected production costs.

For now, DDR5 supply constraints and increasing prices have become a pain point for everyone. If the situation doesn’t improve soon, memory could become one of the aspects that can reshape the future of gaming hardware. Apparently, all of that blame has to come down to the AI boom.

Article feature image source: Pixabay