In February 2026, AMD graphics card prices in Japan have dropped by as much as 20%, a sharp correction following an aggressive price hike late last year.
Retail data from platforms like Kakaku.com and trackers like GZ:LOG indicate that Japanese consumers reached a “breaking point” where they simply stopped buying GPUs, forcing retailers to slash prices to clear stalled inventory.
The Cause: “The Buyer’s Rebellion”
The price drop is being hailed as a victory for consumer price elasticity in the gaming market.
- The December Spike: In December 2025, AMD GPU prices in Japan surged by up to 40%. This was driven by a combination of a weak Yen, year-end demand, and a general market belief that AI-driven supply constraints would allow for higher permanent markups.
- The Stand-Off: Japanese gamers, known for being value-sensitive and highly informed, largely refused to pay the new premiums. By late January 2026, sales volumes had cratered, leaving retailers with excess stock of Radeon RX 9000 and RX 7000 series cards.
- The Correction: To protect cash flow, major Japanese electronics chains began “blinking first,” undoing much of the December hike with sticker cuts and quiet rebates throughout February.
Price Shifts by Model (Feb 2026)
The high-end and upper-midrange cards have seen the most significant “snap-back” toward their original MSRPs.
| GPU Model | Peak Price (Jan 2026) | Current Price (Feb 2026) | % Drop |
| Radeon RX 9070 XT | ¥144,000 | ¥124,000 | ~15% |
| Radeon RX 9060 XT | ¥87,000 | ¥71,000 | 20% |
| Radeon RX 7800 XT | ~¥98,000 | ~¥82,000 | ~16% |
Why Only Japan?
While global GPU prices remain high due to “RAMaggedon” (the 2025–26 global shortage of GDDR6 and HBM memory), Japan’s market corrected early due to unique local factors:
- Inventory Aging: Retailers in Japan typically maintain tighter inventory cycles and are more aggressive about discounting aging stock to make room for new launches.
- Stabilized Nvidia Stock: Improved availability of Nvidia’s RTX 50-series in early February reduced the “scarcity pressure” that was previously driving buyers toward AMD as a second choice.
- Yen Volatility: Small recoveries in the Yen’s value made the original “currency-adjusted” markups look excessive to consumers.
Outlook for 2026
Despite this relief, the long-term trend remains uncertain. Analysts warn that GDDR6 memory costs are still rising globally. There are rumors that both AMD and Nvidia may officially raise their global MSRPs by 10% later in 2026 to cover manufacturing expenses.
Advice for Buyers: If you are in Japan, this February dip represents a rare “buy window” before the next wave of potential global price hikes hit in Q3 2026.
