The gaming hardware landscape is facing significant challenges in 2026, particularly concerning hard drives. Major manufacturers Seagate and Western Digital report that their hard drive stock is sold out until 2027 due to escalated demand from AI datacenters. This shortage is already leading to price hikes for hard drives, with the cost of a 4TB WD Blue drive now around $99, up from previous prices of $67 to $85. The situation is further exacerbated by rising SSD prices as demand for storage continues to climb, separating consumers from budget-friendly storage options that hard drives used to provide. With both hard drive and SSD prices projected to rise, gamers can expect a significant increase in the cost of prebuilt PCs and other gaming hardware over the next year.

Why are hard drives becoming more expensive in 2026?

Hard drives are becoming more expensive due to soaring demand from AI datacenters, leading to stock shortages from major manufacturers that won't be resolved until 2027. This has resulted in a price increase for hard drives, with SSDs also being affected due to their use of similar components.

The focus on hard drives' rising importance relates to their appealing capacity for low cost, which has made them essential for AI training purposes. Training large language models requires vast amounts of data that benefit from hard drives' significant storage space. With a shift in focus from speed to storage capacity, hard drives are gaining traction again, though at higher prices. As AI demand continues to disrupt the market for PC components, both gamers and developers need to stay alert about changing hardware costs that could impact their gaming experiences.