At CES 2026, NVIDIA did not release a consumer-grade graphics card for the first time in five years, instead bringing the Vera Rubin AI computing platform into the spotlight.

However, this does not mean the gaming GPU market has gone quiet. Well-known hardware leaker kopite7kimi revealed on platform X that NVIDIA plans to adopt the next-generation Rubin architecture in the RTX 60 series, featuring the "GR20x" chip, with a new GPU product line set to launch in the second half of 2027.

Originally designed for data centers, the Rubin architecture may now extend directly into gaming GPUs, replacing the previously rumored standalone architecture.

Earlier, semiconductor analysts discovered disabled graphics processing modules in Rubin CPX accelerator cards, providing the hardware foundation for this architectural transition.

As the successor to Blackwell, Rubin delivers a 5x boost in peak AI performance with only a 1.6x increase in transistor count. If the leaks hold true, the RTX 60 series (e.g., RTX 6090) could see performance gains of up to 30%, with greater emphasis on AI-driven image generation.

At CES 2026, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also emphasized that future gaming graphics development will shift focus from rasterization performance to neural rendering, further explaining the rationale behind the Rubin architecture's move into the gaming market.

However, due to supply chain shortages, particularly tight memory supply, NVIDIA's near-term plans have been forced to undergo frequent adjustments.

The originally planned RTX 50 series Super refresh has been canceled or indefinitely postponed. As a result, NVIDIA is considering re-releasing previous-generation graphics cards to alleviate market pressure.

Recently, Board Channels confirmed that the RTX 3060 8GB series will resume mass production in Q1 2026, helping AIC partners return to the retail market.

Shipments are expected to arrive in mid-to-late January, but supplies will be limited. Additionally, NVIDIA will no longer bundle memory, requiring brands to procure GDDR6 independently, while prices will remain unchanged.

The RTX 3060 was launched in 2021 and discontinued in 2024. Its "revival" is driven by drastic fluctuations in the memory market: soaring DDR5 prices have made AM4 platforms supporting DDR4 popular again. Under the impact of the AI wave, the entire PC market seems to have reverted to its 2021 state.

This move serves as both an emergency response to current supply chain shortages and a reflection of the industry's challenges during this technological transition period.