NVIDIA’s Mainstream RTX 5070 & RTX 5060 Series GPU Launch Delayed to March and April

NVIDIA is finding itself in a bit of a bind with the rollout of its mid-range RTX 50 series GPUs, facing delays in mass production due to a widespread chip shortage. This issue arises amidst a substantial demand for semiconductor components globally, causing a hiccup in Team Green’s plans.

Original plans for NVIDIA’s RTX 50 GPUs were ambitious, but the inventory numbers for the premium GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 have been surprisingly low. This scarcity is tied to the intense global need for semiconductors, and unfortunately, the situation isn’t expected to improve any time soon.

Industry insiders, including well-known leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, have indicated that the introduction of NVIDIA’s mid-range RTX 50 GPUs will be postponed by about a month. This delay is intended to give some “breather” to the crunched supply chain.

In a tweet, Kuo highlighted the eagerness of gamers and enthusiasts to get their hands on the new RTX 5090 and 5080 models despite the looming supply issues. As a result, the mass production of the RTX 5070 and 5060 appears to be shifted from its original February/March timeline to March/April. The limited supply situation is expected to result in these cards selling out quickly upon release.

Earlier today, we shared these insights, noting that the RTX 5070 will now likely be rolled out by early March. Kuo’s comments solidify this timeline, pointing out that NVIDIA just can’t fulfill the overwhelming demand for its existing graphics cards. Introducing new models could only mean the same, leading to a rather frustrating experience for consumers hoping to snag these GPUs.

Providing a glimpse into the scale of the issue, analysis by Twitter user @kakashiii111 shows that Taiwan received less than 100 units of the RTX 5090—a significant market for NVIDIA. This trend of shortage extends across various regions, with retailers describing their NVIDIA RTX Blackwell GPU stock as being in “single-digit” figures. Team Green currently struggles to balance supply and demand, with improvements foreseeable only after several months.

This slide in release timing might actually offer NVIDIA a strategic edge; by postponing the mid-range GPU launch, they could potentially steal some thunder from AMD’s RX 9070 series GPUs. If NVIDIA manages the release successfully, they may redirect some of the spotlight away from AMD. However, all eyes are on NVIDIA, waiting to see how they handle this supply squeeze amidst AMD’s rising prominence in the mainstream GPU scene. Only time will tell if NVIDIA can turn this supply chain chaos to their advantage.