A surprising twist in the world of PC gaming hardware has emerged straight from Tokyo’s tech hub. Sofmap Gaming, a major electronics store in Akihabara, posted a plea on social media asking customers to sell them old computers because their shelves have gone nearly bare.

According to the store’s message, even used gaming PCs are in short supply right now, a situation they describe as unusually dire. Sofmap said they’re willing to buy desktop and laptop systems — gaming or otherwise — at attractive prices from anyone interested in selling.

This strange request reflects a deeper problem affecting the global PC market: dwindling availability and rising costs of key components. Demand for parts such as RAM and graphics cards has surged, driven not just by gamers but increasingly by massive AI data centers and tech giants building out artificial intelligence infrastructure. These large buyers are scooping up big quantities of hardware, leaving less for traditional retail and hobbyist builders.

The knock-on effects are noticeable. Building or upgrading a PC has become significantly more expensive, and prices for prebuilt systems from big brands are expected to rise as well. Some analysts anticipate that the squeeze on memory chips and GPUs could persist into 2026 and beyond, meaning used systems may become more valuable.

For gamers and PC enthusiasts, the current climate is a reminder to take stock of any old machines gathering dust. Those once-forgotten rigs might be worth more than you think — not just for spare parts or nostalgia, but as real cash in a tightening market.