NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 Launch Sparks Turmoil: Japan Faces Frenzy and Global Retailers Report Limited Stock

The buzz surrounding NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 launch has swiftly turned into a whirlwind of what can only be described as "release chaos." The excitement around the release of this highly anticipated GPU has been overshadowed by a serious scarcity of stock, leaving eager buyers frustrated.

NVIDIA’s Blackwell Series: Demand Soaring, Stock Lacking

We had previously given a heads-up to our readers about the potential inventory shortage for NVIDIA’s RTX Blackwell GPUs. Despite NVIDIA indicating that the initial supply would be limited, the enthusiasm from consumers reached new heights. Now, we’re witnessing pandemonium at retailers, notably in Japan, where the situation took a dramatic turn. According to @sarasteam0151, Japanese NVIDIA enthusiasts eager to secure a RTX 5090 were anything but patient and orderly during the launch.

In Japan, retailers have introduced a "lottery" system in an attempt to fairly distribute the GeForce RTX 5090 and prevent scalping. Unfortunately, this approach hasn’t quite hit the mark. Reports suggest that excitement may have reached an extreme, with scenes resembling chaos, including some customers reportedly climbing over a nearby kindergarten’s fence in a display of their intense frustration and eagerness.

But it’s not just Japan that’s experiencing these challenges. Similar scenes are unfolding worldwide. In the United States, for instance, there’s talk of stores like MicroCenter receiving a mere handful of these RTX 5090 units. In anticipation, many hopeful buyers camped out for days at these retail locations, making it nearly impossible for the average consumer to snag one on launch day. Such is the current reality for fans wishing to get their hands on an RTX Blackwell.

What’s causing this bottleneck, you may ask? It mainly boils down to NVIDIA incorporating cutting-edge GDDR7 memory into these GPUs, significantly affecting production. Also, NVIDIA’s AIB partners are struggling with tight profit margins on the RTX 50 series, prompting some to sell above the manufacturer’s suggested pricing. This mix of factors has led to the current launch-day bedlam.

We advise prospective buyers to hold off for now. Inventory levels should stabilize over time, though it might be a few weeks before we see significant relief. Meanwhile, keep an eye on AMD’s RX 9070 series, which might provide a competitive alternative when it arrives in the market.