In its first 30 years, Nvidia was known mainly to gamers. Now, as artificial intelligence has made it the most valuable company in the world, it is leaving its original fans behind. In an article published by CNBC in the United States, analysts claimed that the gaming sector, once the company’s main source of revenue, has been pushed to the margins.
When Nvidia released its first graphics card in 1999, it was close to bankruptcy, and gamers were the ones who saved it. Today, almost all of its revenue comes from AI chips for data centers. With profits from AI chips reaching 69% compared to 40% in gaming, it is not surprising that the company is prioritizing the bigger money.
Updated forecasts show that 2026 may be the first year in three decades in which Nvidia does not launch a new generation of GeForce graphics cards. While the company claims it continues to innovate for gamers, the global shortage of memory components forces it to decide where to allocate its resources. A single AI chip from the “Blackwell” family can cost around $40,000, while a consumer graphics card costs between $300 and $2,000. This economic gap creates a situation in which computer memory (DRAM) becomes a rare and expensive commodity. Experts predict that personal computer prices will rise by 17% this year, which could lead to a decline in sales and even the disappearance of the entry-level PC market by 2028.
What is DLSS 5 and why are gamers angry?
Beyond pricing, there is also controversy surrounding the technology itself. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently introduced DLSS 5, a software that uses artificial intelligence to enhance graphics. Many gamers fear that this technology alters the original artistic vision created by game developers and produces a uniform, artificial look. “It feels like a slap in the face,” say prominent industry voices, who worry this is a step toward replacing game developers with AI and shutting down creative studios.
On the other hand, Huang rejects these claims and assures that creators will remain in control, using AI only as an assistive tool. Despite the backlash, Nvidia remains the undisputed leader of the market. Its gaming service is considered the best in the world, and even its main competitor AMD is suffering from the same component shortages. This leaves gamers with little real choice except to continue hoping that the company will not abandon them completely.