AMD unveiled its next-generation graphics cards, the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT, at CES 2025, yet intriguingly, these RDNA 4 graphics cards were absent from AMD's keynote. Despite this, vendors showcased their new cards on the show floor, albeit with obscured specifications.
David McAfee, VP & GM of Radeon Graphics and Ryzen CPUs, took to Twitter/X to announce that both models are slated for release in March 2025. "Radeon 9000 series hardware and software are looking great and we are planning to have a wide assortment of cards available globally," McAfee stated. "Can’t wait for gamers to get their hands on the cards when they go on sale in March!"
Thus, the AMD RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are confirmed for a March 2025 launch, though specifics like performance metrics and pricing remain undisclosed. It's anticipated that these GPUs will compete directly with Nvidia’s forthcoming RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti, set to hit the market in February.
Interestingly, reports suggest that stocks of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT have already reached retailers and are in the hands of reviewers, with eTeknix confirming receipt of review samples.
The situation has sparked speculation that AMD may have delayed the official launch to strategically counter Nvidia’s RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti, allowing for direct performance comparisons. There's also speculation that pricing pressures from Nvidia could be influencing AMD's decision to postpone the RX 9070 series release.The lack of detailed information about the new AMD graphics cards has resulted in a somewhat chaotic and confusing launch narrative. A report from June 2024 highlights Nvidia's dominant 88% share of the discrete GPU market, with AMD holding only 12%.
Given the absence of other competitors in the mid-range and high-end consumer graphics card market, AMD must strategically position its RX 9070 lineup to effectively challenge Nvidia's overwhelming market lead.
