Automated purchasing bots have depleted the entire European inventory of Nvidia’s new RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Founders Edition graphics cards within minutes of launch, leaving legitimate customers without access to the highly anticipated GPUs.
Why it matters: The immediate sellout of Nvidia’s latest graphics cards fundamentally disrupts the gaming and professional creative markets, forcing consumers to either wait months for restocking or pay inflated prices to scalpers.
Market Impact: The shortage affects multiple segments of the technology sector:
- Gaming enthusiasts unable to upgrade
- Content creators facing workflow delays
- Professional users requiring GPU compute power
Supply Timeline: Retailers across Europe project extended waiting periods for new stock, with UK vendors specifically indicating a potential four-month delay before significant inventory becomes available. Major retailers have:
- 3-16 week estimated restock window
- No guaranteed delivery dates
- Uncertain allocation quantities
Looking Forward: While Nvidia has not officially addressed the situation, the widespread bot purchases highlight the need for more robust anti-scalping measures during high-profile product launches.