The launch of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 has officially turned into a bit of a mess, with reports of incredibly low availability causing a wave of frustration among eager consumers.
### The Frenzy for NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPU: Sky-High Demand Meets Sparse Stock
As most of our readers are aware, we’ve seen NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPUs primed to hit the shelves with some of the most limited stock quantities in recent memory. Though NVIDIA did give a heads-up about the sparse initial release, it turns out that the anticipation only built up further among consumers. This has led to what can best be described as “inventory chaos” at various retailers, and Japan presents quite an interesting case. According to @sarasteam0151, the scramble to snag the NVIDIA RTX 5090 has taken a wild turn, with incidents of disorder popping up during the launch.
In Japan, retailers tried to manage the madness with a “lottery” system meant to give everyone a fair shot while preventing scalpers from swooping in. But even this approach backfired, leading to a series of chaotic scenes among early adopters. Some even resorted to scaling a nearby kindergarten’s fence at one retail location, venting their exasperation over the proceedings.
It’s not just Japan facing this ordeal. Over in the U.S., the scenario is equally problematic. Reports from stores like MicroCenter indicate they only received a few RTX 5090 units, often in single digits. This lack of stock prompted eager buyers to set up camp outside stores days ahead of the official release date, putting average consumers at a disadvantage when trying to get their hands on an RTX Blackwell.
The reason behind this stock shortage is primarily NVIDIA’s decision to incorporate GDDR7 memory modules, which has significantly impacted availability. Furthermore, with AIB partners dealing with slim margins on the RTX 50 series, they’re looking to sell at prices above MSRP, adding to the chaos of the initial launch situation. Our advice? It’s best to hang tight and wait for the supply to stabilize, which might take a few weeks. By that time, we could also see AMD’s RX 9070 series entering the fray, offering more options for eager gamers.
