Some customers like Samsung report no negative impact on production as they develop compatible in-house tools to bridge the transition.

Synopsys is reallocating resources from legacy manufacturing software to AI-driven design capabilities, a shift tied to its 2025 $35 billion purchase of Ansys that expands simulation and analysis in support of owning the design phase of chip creation.

The move affects more than 10 chipmakers, including Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kioxia, and Qorvo, with the EES and related platforms slated for end-of-life and a shift to maintenance-only support.

A phased end-of-life plan will eliminate future versions and run discussions and maintenance sunsets through July as affected customers transition.

The shift reflects a greater emphasis on data sharing for optimizing manufacturing software amid customers building more in-house tooling.

Retired platforms historically helped monitor equipment, detect faults, and reduce defects to improve chip yields.

Synopsys will honor existing contracts and support while discontinuing older manufacturing analytics not on critical production paths.

The company is investing in new capabilities while maintaining obligations, without detailing job-cut totals publicly.

CEO emphasis on AI-enhanced EDA tools as key to growth, highlighting DSO.ai’s milestone of over 100 commercial tape-outs as proof of production-ready AI in design workflows.

A number of layoffs have occurred among staff tied to the discontinued products, signaling tangible cost of the pivot.

The move mirrors a broader industry trend toward AI design software and increased in-house tool development by chipmakers, reducing reliance on external vendors.

Implications for the semiconductor supply chain include a push for alternatives in process control from other vendors as fab software needs shift.