Neo Geo AES+ Nearly Cancelled Due to AI Chip Shortage, Workaround Saved It

Did you know the Neo Geo AES+ almost never saw the light of day? According to Plaion, the upcoming remake was nearly cancelled thanks to the AI data centre boom gobbling up chip supplies. But a last-minute workaround involving physical carts saved the project.

The problem? AI data centres have been buying up components left and right, creating shortages that hit smaller hardware projects hard. Plaion's Neo Geo AES+ was caught in that squeeze, and at one point it looked like the plug would be pulled.

"It was a bit of a ‘nothing stops this train’ moment," Plaion said, describing the scramble to keep the project alive. The team refused to let the remake die, so they went back to the drawing board.

Their solution? A chip workaround that involved the physical cartridges. Instead of relying on the scarce components, they found a way to make the carts do more of the heavy lifting. It's a clever fix that kept the dream of a Neo Geo AES+ alive.

For retro fans, this is huge. The Neo Geo AES is a legendary console, and a modern remake was something many thought would never happen. Now, thanks to some quick thinking, it's back on track.

It also highlights a growing issue: AI's insatiable appetite for hardware is affecting industries beyond just data centres. Gaming hardware, especially niche projects, can get sidelined when big tech comes calling.

So, what do you think? Are you relieved the Neo Geo AES+ survived? Let us know in the comments!