Nvidia's gaming GPU roadmap has encountered an unusual obstacle.

      Memory shortages and surging AI demand are causing NVIDIA to alter its RTX plans for 2026 and beyond.

      NVIDIA is reportedly planning to forgo the release of new gaming graphics chips in 2026, which is an unusual and unexpected development in a sector where new GPUs typically debut every year. According to a report from The Information, limitations in the global memory market, primarily due to the rising demand for AI accelerators and data-center memory, have resulted in NVIDIA having insufficient memory, leading to delays in its intended RTX 50 Super refresh and a reduced focus on gaming GPUs this year.

      This situation could result in a notable gap in NVIDIA’s product cycle. Even the forthcoming flagship GPUs, the highly awaited RTX 60 series, are now anticipated to be postponed longer than gamers had hoped, with production potentially extending into 2028 as memory shortages persist. Reports suggest that NVIDIA has even slowed down production of certain existing RTX 50 series cards to allocate memory for AI-centric chips.

      This is significant for gamers and the GPU market.

      For gaming enthusiasts, the absence of new NVIDIA GPUs in 2026 is more than just a letdown. It may significantly affect upgrade strategies and pricing within the entire PC market. NVIDIA’s RTX 50 series, which includes cards like the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 launched in 2025, was intended to follow the RTX 40 generation and sustain performance improvements. However, due to a scarcity of memory chips and the diversion of resources to AI, NVIDIA seems to be putting aside the anticipated “Super” refresh that was supposed to debut earlier this year.

      The global memory shortage has been exacerbating for months as memory manufacturers have been reallocating production towards high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and other components tailored for AI workloads. This shift has led to increased prices for consumer-oriented memory such as GDDR and DDR, making it more challenging and costly for companies like NVIDIA to obtain sufficient supplies for gaming GPUs while also meeting the soaring demand from AI data centers.

      Perhaps the more surprising aspect is not just the postponed refresh but the lack of any new gaming GPU releases for the first time in decades. Consequently, the previously reliable schedule of mid-year refreshes and generational launches is being replaced by shortages and strategic prioritization. Under these circumstances, NVIDIA’s gaming lineup may depend on the existing RTX 50 cards for a longer duration than expected, and prices for current GPUs could remain elevated as consumers await the next substantial performance upgrade. Currently, NVIDIA has not officially commented on the delays, but as things stand, the usual pattern of GPU releases is being disrupted, leaving gamers to hold on to their existing hardware longer than they had anticipated.