Release Turmoil for NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 Begins; Japan Experiences Disorganized Launch as Global Retailers Face Minimal Stock Levels

The excitement surrounding NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 has turned chaotic, with reports flooding in about severely limited stock, leaving many eager buyers frustrated.

NVIDIA’s top-tier RTX Blackwell GPU is in high demand, but with stocks running low, buyers are feeling the pressure. We’ve previously mentioned that NVIDIA’s latest RTX Blackwell GPUs would be released in limited quantities. Though NVIDIA was upfront about this before unveiling the initial models, the anticipation among consumers soared, creating a bit of a frenzy. This “inventory chaos” has now hit retailers, and Japan seems to be experiencing an especially turbulent situation. According to reports from @sarasteam0151, Japanese customers hoping to snag the RTX 5090 have resorted to drastic measures, resulting in some chaotic scenes during the launch.

With the high demand, Japanese retailers introduced a lottery system for early purchasers of the GeForce RTX 5090, intending to give everyone a fair shot and to curb scalping. Unfortunately, this approach didn’t pan out as intended. Reports indicate that the supposed controlled environment erupted into chaos, with some frustrated customers even resorting to climbing a nearby kindergarten fence to express their displeasure.

It’s not just Japan facing these issues. In the U.S., for instance, retailers like MicroCenter are reportedly receiving only a handful of RTX 5090 units. This scarcity has led to people camping outside stores days in advance of the launch, making it nearly impossible for the average consumer to get their hands on one at release. This has surely been a letdown for fans eager to buy the RTX Blackwell as soon as it was available.

For those wondering about the low inventory levels, the situation is largely due to NVIDIA’s choice to incorporate GDDR7 memory modules, which has significantly impacted availability. Additionally, AIB partners are experiencing thinner profit margins with the RTX 50 series GPUs, prompting them to sell above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, further complicating matters. For now, we recommend that consumers exercise patience until stock numbers stabilize, which might take weeks. By that time, AMD’s RX 9070 series might also enter the market, offering additional options.