In a historic move that has stunned the gaming community, NVIDIA has reportedly halted all plans for new consumer GPU launches in 2026. This decision, first reported on February 5, 2026, marks the first time in over 30 years that the company will go an entire calendar year without releasing a new or refreshed gaming graphics card.
The move is a direct consequence of a deepening global DRAM and GDDR7 memory shortage, which has forced NVIDIA to prioritize its high-margin AI data center business over the consumer gaming market.
1. The “Super” Refresh Indefinitely Delayed
NVIDIA had reportedly completed the design for an incremental update to the current Blackwell lineup, internally code-named “Kicker” (the RTX 50-Series Super).
- Original Plan: A showcase at CES 2026 with a Q1/Q2 launch.
- Current Status: The launch has been postponed indefinitely.
- The Reason: AI accelerators like the Rubin CPX and Blackwell Ultra consume massive amounts of the same cutting-edge memory chips. NVIDIA is choosing to allocate its limited supply to these enterprise products, which command 65% operating margins compared to roughly 40% for gaming GPUs.
2. Slashing Existing Production
Not only are new cards being canceled, but production of the current RTX 50-Series is also being aggressively reduced.
- Production Cuts: Reports suggest NVIDIA is slashing GeForce GPU production by 20% to 40% in the first half of 2026.
- Targeted Models: The RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) are among the hardest hit, as their high VRAM-to-price ratio makes them “memory inefficient” for NVIDIA to produce right now.
- Strategic Shift: The company is reportedly prioritizing 8GB VRAM models (like the RTX 5060) to stretch its limited memory inventory as far as possible.
3. Market Impact: Skyrocketing Prices
With supply drying up and no new models to provide price relief, the retail market is entering a “technology nuclear winter.”
- Price Hikes: Many RTX 50-series cards are already selling for 30% above MSRP at major retailers.
- The $700 Mid-Range: The RTX 5060 Ti (16GB), once intended to be an affordable high-VRAM option, is now frequently crossing the $700 mark.
- Gamer Frustration: For the first time, gaming now accounts for only 8% of NVIDIA’s total revenue, leading to fears among the community that “Team Green” is essentially abandoning the consumer market to become a pure AI infrastructure company.
4. Impact on the RTX 60-Series (“Rubin”)
The memory crisis has created a “domino effect” on NVIDIA’s future roadmap.
- RTX 60 Series Delay: Originally targeted for a late 2027 mass-production window, the RTX 60-series is now likely pushed to 2028 or later.
- Widening Gaps: This could result in a three-year gap between major GPU generations, the longest in modern gaming history.
| Series | Original Window | Revised Window (Est.) |
| RTX 50 Super (Kicker) | Q1 2026 | Postponed / Cancelled |
| RTX 60 (Rubin) | Late 2027 | 2028+ |
Conclusion: A Shift in Priorities
As NVIDIA spokesperson noted to Tom’s Hardware, demand for GeForce remains “strong,” but the “memory supply is constrained.” For now, NVIDIA’s strategy is clear: if there isn’t enough RAM for both, the AI data centers get fed first, leaving gamers to wait out what may be the longest GPU drought on record.
