GPU 2026: Why No New Cards Will Be Released

If you were waiting for a new generation of graphics cards to upgrade your PC in 2026, you will have to wait. Both Nvidia and AMD have few announcements, and launches are being pushed back. The main reason? A global memory crisis that is reshaping the entire hardware market.

Nvidia puts gaming on pause

Nvidia has reportedly decided to postpone the release of its RTX 5000 "Super" range, which was expected to bring some improvements to the current generation launched in early 2025. More broadly, the manufacturer has allegedly chosen not to launch any new gaming graphics cards this year.

This decision, made internally at the end of 2025, is directly linked to the memory chip shortage. Data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence are absorbing a large portion of GDDR7 stocks, the memory used in high-end graphics cards. As a result, the video game market is taking a backseat.

On the software side, however, Nvidia continues to make progress. DLSS 4.5 introduces Multi Frame Generation 6x and a dynamic version of this technology, expected in the spring of 2026. The idea is to generate several additional frames from a single image calculated by the card, to improve fluidity without changing hardware.

AMD also delays its new generation

For its part, AMD was expected to release its future RDNA 5 architecture, which was supposed to mark a technological turning point for its Radeon cards. But here too, the schedule is shifting: the launch of this series is reportedly pushed to 2027.

The consequence for gamers is clear: 2026 is looking more and more like a blank year in terms of new graphics cards. Current models therefore remain the reference, and their prices are not dropping as one might hope at the end of a cycle.

What this means in practice for gamers

In this context, several habits become useful before buying or upgrading your PC:

• Bet on the current generation: the RTX 5060, 5060 Ti, and 5070 remain excellent choices for 1080p and 1440p, without waiting for a hypothetical new release.
• Monitor memory prices: the rise also affects RAM and SSDs, not just graphics cards. A complete PC bought today may be a smart move if prices continue to climb.
• Optimize existing hardware: enabling upscaling and frame generation technologies (DLSS, FSR) often allows for better comfort without changing cards.

Should you wait or buy now?

When a new generation is imminent, the classic advice is to wait. But in 2026, the situation is reversed: there is no relief in the short term, and component prices are more likely to rise than fall. For a gamer who needs a reliable machine right now, delaying a purchase does not necessarily bring any advantage.

At DSGate, we assemble our configurations in France using current graphics cards, prioritizing the right balance between performance and budget. If you are unsure about the configuration suited to your games, feel free to browse our assembled gaming PCs to compare the available options.

This is a unique period, but it has one advantage: benchmarks are stable. The graphics cards of 2025 remain relevant, and a well-balanced configuration will easily hold up for several gaming seasons.