GPU Outlook: AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA Face the RAM Crisis

With everyone currently talking about an RTX 60 release date of (allegedly) 2028, it is worth taking a step back to verify these claims. This date is likely based on a misinterpretation of the difference between the calendar year and NVIDIA's fiscal year. In reality, the RTX 60 series still appears to be scheduled for a release in the Summer or Autumn of 2027.

It is worth taking a general look at the further graphics card plans of AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. All three companies have been hit hard by the upheavals of the current RAM crisis. Activities for the current generation of graphics cards have often seen greatly reduced—or even non-existent—activity, and the next generations of hardware are being postponed or, in some cases, possibly suspended entirely.

The RAM Crisis and Its Impact

The emerging basic rule for graphics chip developers seems to be: no graphics card releases in the midst of the RAM crisis. This, of course, paves the way for further delays if, as assumed, the crisis continues to rage throughout 2027. Companies are becoming increasingly reluctant to release entirely new generations of hardware while component supply and pricing remain unstable.

Currently, graphics chip developers are hoping that the worst will be over after the summer of 2027. If this is not the case, however, manufacturers will have to sit down again and rethink their release strategy. At some point, the fact that the hardware will be ready at a certain point and then just start to age will also come into play—after all, the "next-next" generation is always in development simultaneously, at least at AMD & NVIDIA.

For 2026, on the other hand, there is little to hope for in the consumer market, and even the chance of an Arc B700 series for consumer purposes is dwindling by the day.

The Case of "RTX 60 in 2028": A Fiscal Year Misunderstanding

Most presumably, the original source of this rumor refers to NVIDIA's fiscal years—and not the regular calendar years. This is because the RTX 60 series was never planned (for mass production) at the end of calendar year 2027, but rather for the end of fiscal 2027—which corresponds to early 2027.

If you calculate according to NVIDIA's fiscal years, then "end of 2027" is technically correct because the last quarter of the 2027 fiscal year at NVIDIA runs from November 2026 to January 2027. A new date in fiscal year 2028 therefore means nothing more than the period from February 2027 to January 2028. Consequently, reports claiming a 2028 release most likely imply a delay to late summer or autumn 2027.

Company-by-Company Outlook

Intel: An Uncertain Future

Intel's graphics card activities are being called into question internally due to a lack of demonstrable success. The current RAM crisis may be used as a convenient excuse to abandon this business segment altogether. Factors contributing to this include the fact that Intel will use NVIDIA technology in the iGPU sector in the long term, and the development of HPC/AI accelerators no longer has much to do with consumer graphics cards from a technical standpoint.

AMD: Waiting on RDNA 5

For AMD, the current generation (RDNA 4) is seeing a shift in strategy. A proper RDNA 4 refresh seems unlikely for the global market in 2026. The focus appears to be shifting entirely toward the next generation, RDNA 5, which new rumors suggest won't arrive before mid-2027—possibly arriving directly after NVIDIA's RTX 60 series.

NVIDIA: Postponing the Refresh

NVIDIA is feeling the pinch as well. The RTX 50 "SUPER" refresh, originally slated for early 2026, is currently indefinitely postponed. While some sources suggest the third quarter of 2026, it is possible that this refresh will never be released amidst the RAM crisis as the company shifts focus to the Rubin architecture.

Release Schedule Comparison

The following table breaks down the original plans versus the current reality based on recent rumors and industry shifts.

Product Line	Original Plan	Current Planning
AMD: Current Gen (RDNA4)	No proper RDNA4 refresh was planned; the Radeon RX 9070 GRE will launch worldwide sometime in 2026.	Probably no graphics card activity in 2026; the Radeon RX 9070 GRE will remain exclusive to China for now (and may never be released worldwide).
AMD: Next Gen (RDNA5)	It was probably planned sometime between summer 2026 and early 2027 (sources were uncertain).	New rumors suggest RDNA5 won't arrive before mid-2027, and possibly not until (directly) after NVIDIA's RTX 60 series.
Intel: Current Gen (Battlemage)	The Arc B700 series, based on the "BMG-G31", was originally scheduled for release by the end of 2025.	BMG-G31 will be used for professional Arc Pro B65/B70 cards towards the end of Q1; a consumer release, however, remains uncertain and may no longer be feasible.
Intel: Next Gen (Celestial)	Earlier indications suggested a release plan for the Arc C series as late as 2026.	Nothing appears to be happening before 2027, but even then Intel could continue to suspend all its activities in favor of consumer graphics cards.
NVIDIA: Current Gen (Gaming-Blackwell)	The RTX50 "SUPER" refresh was supposed to be released at the beginning of 2026.	The RTX 50 refresh is currently indefinitely postponed – some sources suggest Q3 2026, but it's possible that this refresh will never be released amidst the RAM crisis.
NVIDIA: Next Gen (Gaming-Rubin)	The next real new hardware generation from NVIDIA was probably scheduled for the start of 2027.	Due to the RAM crisis, the release has been postponed until well into 2027, possibly for a late summer/autumn release (reports regarding a 2028 date are most likely based on a misinterpretation of fiscal years).

Note: Information about hardware that has not yet been officially announced is based on rumors and assumptions.