Gaming PCs could become unaffordable by 2028 — and Nvidia's 'fantastic' AI boom is pricing us out

Gaming PC build images — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

I’ve been covering Apple’s MacBook Neo all week, and it’s great being able to tell folks about such an affordable laptop. Unfortunately, I can’t do the same with PC gaming. Thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, it seems the days of the budget gaming rig are officially numbered. While Apple has found a way to bring costs down (at least with the Neo), the world of PC gaming is heading in the opposite direction.

If current trends continue, PC gaming enthusiasts who love building, tweaking, and upgrading their kits could be priced out in the next couple of years. We’re not just talking about a slight bump in inflation — we could see a future where an “entry-level” gaming PC starts at $2,000 or more.

Here’s why PC gaming could become an even more exclusive club.

RAMageddon strikes again

RAM stick on US dollars — (Image credit: Shutterstock)

As Gartner reports, surging memory costs are already choking the market. The firm predicts that skyrocketing DRAM and NAND flash prices will lead to a significant reduction in global PC and smartphone shipments throughout 2026.

This is a double-whammy for PC gamers. Not only do we need memory for our system RAM, but we also need it for our GPUs and high-end NVMe drives. With the cost of raw materials rising, manufacturers pass those increases directly to consumers.

We’re already seeing "budget" GPUs ship with less VRAM just to keep prices somewhat stable, and Gartner’s data suggests that even those compromised cards are about to get a lot more expensive.

Scarcity is “fantastic”

Jensen Huang holding an Nvidia RTX GPU. — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Don’t expect any of the big manufacturers to come in and save the day. Speaking at a recent conference, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the current supply scarcity is “fantastic” for the company (via VideoCardz). While that’s certainly true from a corporate perspective, it’s not good for the ordinary gamer.

Huang was discussing this in the context of AI infrastructure rather than gaming products specifically, but it’s still disheartening to hear. It could be viewed as confirmation that high prices aren’t a temporary fluke and may reflect a business model that prioritizes high-margin enterprise and AI markets over consumers. You need only look at Micron’s decision to leave the consumer RAM market as an example.

While this benefits Nvidia's enterprise focus, it highlights the growing tension between AI demands and consumer accessibility.

A bleak future for PC gaming

Cooling system inside PC — (Image credit: Unsplash)

Based on the Gartner report, Metro UK has a grim prediction: by 2028, gaming PCs will be “too expensive for ordinary people.” Based on Gartner's report and the reality on the ground, I agree with this assessment.

Metro UK believes we’re moving toward a bifurcated market. On one side, you’ll have low-power devices and consoles for the masses. On the other hand, you’ll have the enthusiast PC market, where the barrier to entry could rise from $800 to nearly $2,500.

By 2028, the components required to run the latest AAA titles at 4K, let alone 8K, will be so specialized and in such high demand (thanks to the AI boom) that the average consumer may simply be priced out of the DIY market entirely.

While there has always been a divide between low-end and high-end gaming in the PC world, that gap could grow even wider. And that’s the best-case scenario. The way things are going, budget or entry-level rigs and components might just cease to exist.

Outlook

If $2,000 becomes the floor for a functional gaming PC, where does that leave the average gamer?

The only choices might be the upcoming PS6 or Xbox Project Helix. It’s also possible that those who prefer the PC experience might gravitate toward cloud gaming services like GeForce Now. While I’m not a fan of subscription services, paying a monthly fee could be more affordable than shelling out thousands for a gaming rig.

Building your own PC has always been one of the most rewarding (and empowering) parts of being a PC gamer. However, with Gartner’s memory warnings, Huang’s statement, and 2028 price predictions, it seems that era may be winding down. I don’t see PC gaming going away, but it’s rapidly shifting from a relatively mainstream hobby to a luxury pursuit.

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Tony is a computing writer at Tom’s Guide covering laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending too much time on X/Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attending Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC bars with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.

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