THE CRUNCH
Plaion has revealed that the global chip shortage, driven by demand for AI data centres, forced a redesign of the NeoGeo AES+ and caused a ten-month delay to September 2027. The shortage made the Parallel NOR flash memory required for the console essentially unavailable, leading to a real risk of cancellation. The team found a workaround by redesigning the cartridge chips to convert a serial signal into a parallel, a
solution that required extra testing and re-engineering. Chief Technical Officer Bruno Steux said the decision was tough but necessary to avoid excessive cost and delay. The console, which plays original 1990s cartridges, will now launch with 15 announced games, including Zero Wing and Street Slam.
The delay highlights how AI-driven demand for data centre components is impacting consumer hardware. Plaion hardware director Ben Jones said he had never been refused ordering chips in 20 years. The company is also adding new content, such as the Scotland course for Big Tournament Golf, to make the 35-year-old platform more viable.