NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 Launch Sparks Chaos: Japan’s Turbulent Release and Global Inventory Scare

It seems like the chaos surrounding the launch of NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 is heating up, leaving many consumers frustrated due to extremely low stock levels.

NVIDIA’s latest powerhouse, the RTX Blackwell GPU, is seeing massive demand, and the scarcity of available units is stirring up quite the frustration among eager buyers. We anticipated and shared with our readers that inventory would be slim when these cutting-edge GPUs hit the shelves. NVIDIA was upfront about it ahead of time, but the excitement from gamers and tech enthusiasts has shot through the roof, leading to what we’re now calling an “inventory chaos” at retailers. Over in Japan, things have taken a particularly interesting turn. Reports from @sarasteam0151 reveal that Japanese consumers hoping to snag an RTX 5090 were so eager that a bit of disorder broke out during the launch.

To manage the overwhelming demand, Japanese retailers introduced a “lottery” system to ensure everyone had a fair shot at purchasing the GeForce RTX 5090 and to prevent scalpers from snagging all the units. However, this attempt at fairness didn’t quite go as planned. Some excited customers ended up hopping over the kindergarten fence next to the store in a show of frustration over the limited supply.

And it’s not just Japan facing these issues. Over in the U.S., the situation is pretty dire, too. Reports claim that major stores like MicroCenter are only receiving RTX 5090 units in the “single digits.” Shoppers even camped out days before the official release, which means the average consumer is having a tough time snagging this sought-after GPU. It’s a letdown for many fans hoping to grab an RTX Blackwell right at launch.

The reason behind these staggeringly low inventory levels seems to hinge on NVIDIA’s decision to include GDDR7 memory modules in the mix. This decision, alongside AIB partners facing slim profit margins with the RTX 50 series GPUs, means they’re opting to sell above the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, adding to the launch day turmoil. For now, the best advice we can offer consumers is to hold tight and wait for inventory levels to bounce back, which might take some time. And who knows, by then, AMD’s RX 9070 series GPUs might also be hitting the market, adding more options for tech enthusiasts everywhere.