Nvidia and AMD are unlikely to release new graphics cards in 2026. Some players see this as a great opportunity.
The RAM and memory crisis has now also reached graphics card manufacturers: Some producers do not want to release a new graphics card this year, while others prefer to launch specific products for the AI market. Therefore, there will likely be no new graphics card for gamers in 2026.
- Nvidia is not expected to release new gaming graphics cards in the RTX-50 series (like Super models) and will delay the start of the RTX-60 series to 2027. The focus is to be on AI products.
- AMD is also expected to abandon the development of a fast high-end card and focus on server chips in 2026 (via allround-pc.com).
Some players believe that this is a great opportunity for the gaming market. Others see it more as a problem for those who are already having a hard time. This is shown in a discussion on Reddit.
Players see the lack of new graphics cards as an opportunity for the gaming market
The argument of some players: Developers are demanding ever higher requirements for their games, putting pressure on the PC market with these demands. Many players are therefore forced to buy the latest and greatest hardware every year to benefit from the new features. And this makes PC gaming increasingly expensive.
And foregoing new hardware would break this vicious cycle: Because there should be no newer and faster graphics cards in 2026, leading developers would have to focus on the current hardware. Some developers are even starting to lower the requirements for their games.
Anyone needing hardware now has to pay a premium
But is this really an opportunity? Some do not really agree. Because while some are rejoicing and seeing the current situation as an opportunity, others are less enthusiastic. Those who already own powerful, high-performance hardware can simply wait out the current situation.
And this is indeed a big problem that many are already facing: Many computers will end up in the trash due to the end of Windows 10 and companies and users will inevitably need replacements. Those stuck with very old hardware cannot simply wait out the high prices. Someone who needs to replace a defective component now will be confronted with the high prices.
A missing generation of graphics cards also typically prevents older generations from becoming cheaper because they would otherwise have to be sold off to make way for new models. And if people do not buy new graphics cards, significantly fewer models will end up on the second-hand market.
RAM is getting more expensive – and this also affects gaming laptops. But instead of using cheaper parts or cutting specs, HP is taking an untested approach and wants to rent hardware in a subscription model: One manufacturer has found the solution to the high RAM prices: gamers should rent hardware in a subscription.
