Reporting date: December 17th, 2025.

NVIDIA is reportedly evaluating a reduction in production of its GeForce RTX 50-Series gaming graphics cards beginning in early 2026, with some industry sources suggesting output could be lowered by as much as 30% to 40% compared with the same period in 2025. The potential adjustment is said to be linked to ongoing constraints in the global memory supply chain rather than a shift in demand for gaming hardware.

The reports, which have circulated through supply chain channels and industry observers, indicate that the proposed reduction would primarily affect certain mid range and higher capacity RTX 50 series models. According to these reports, the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB and RTX 5070 Ti are cited as likely targets. These configurations rely on larger quantities of high speed video memory, which has come under increasing pressure as memory manufacturers prioritize allocations for data center and artificial intelligence workloads.

Above: A photo of Colorful's GeForce RTX 5070Ti Battle AX CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Photo by David Aughinbaugh II for CircuitRoute.

At the center of the issue is the availability of advanced VRAM, including newer memory standards used in current generation graphics cards. While consumer GPUs represent a large visible segment of the market, memory suppliers are facing competing demand from enterprise and AI systems that often command higher margins and longer term contracts. This imbalance has introduced constraints that can influence how GPU vendors plan future production volumes.

Importantly, the reported production reduction does not appear to reflect a broad pullback from the gaming market, instead it suggests a more targeted response to component availability, particularly for models that require higher memory capacities per card. Entry level and standard configurations, which use fewer memory modules, are expected to be less affected under the scenarios described by supply chain sources.

Current retail conditions also point to a measured approach rather than an abrupt supply disruption. Many RTX 50 series cards remain readily available across major markets, indicating that existing inventory could continue to support demand even if future production volumes are adjusted.

Above: A photo showcasing NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 Series Graphics Cards at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Photo by David Aughinbaugh II for CircuitRoute.

Market observers note that production planning for GPUs typically occurs months in advance and is closely tied to memory procurement schedules. As a result, changes to manufacturing targets often reflect longer term supply realities rather than short term sales performance. A reported production cut would be consistent with semiconductor industry patterns seen during periods of component scarcity.

Pricing implications remain uncertain. In previous periods of constrained GPU supply, some models have seen price increases, especially when availability was already limited. Any impact in this case will depend on how NVIDIA allocates available components, inventory levels, and future product updates.

NVIDIA has not publicly confirmed any plans to reduce gaming GPU production in 2026.

The situation underscores the growing influence of memory availability on the graphics card market. As demand for advanced memory continues to rise across data centers, AI, and consumer segments, shifts in the semiconductor supply chain are increasingly shaping outcomes even in established product categories.