Retailer Claims AMD RX 9070 XT Was Meant to Cost $900

AMD’s RX 9000 series remains largely under wraps, but intriguing details continue to emerge from unexpected sources. Recently, Gplay, a Bulgarian retailer, disclosed the anticipated pricing for AMD’s upcoming high-end graphics cards. Initially, it appears that AMD aimed to set the price of its new flagship model closer to the RTX 5080 rather than the RTX 5070.

In a video discussing the forthcoming Radeon GPUs, Gplay shared insights, although, as highlighted by VideoCardz, they didn’t provide the specific details many gamers are eager to learn about—which is understandable as the GPUs haven’t officially launched yet. Nevertheless, they showcased the packaging for PowerColor’s Red Devil RX 9070 XT Limited Edition, along with some insider information.

According to the retailer, AMD originally intended to debut the RX 9070 XT on January 23, which aligns with what we found regarding B&H’s preorder dates. The pricing details are noteworthy—reports indicate that the card was meant to launch at a staggering $900, while the RX 9070 non-XT version would be priced at $750.

To put these figures into perspective, it’s essential to consider existing and upcoming GPUs. AMD has shared limited information, but it anticipates the RX 9070 XT will perform similarly to the RX 7900 XT. The original RX 7900 XT launched at $900, but is now available for around $650. Even if the RX 9070 XT surpasses its predecessor in performance (especially regarding ray tracing capabilities), a $250 price increase is quite steep.

Meanwhile, Nvidia is set to release the RTX 5080 soon. Though leaked benchmarks suggest it may not outperform the RTX 4090, it’s safe to assume it will outperform the RX 9070 XT. The RTX 5080 is expected to launch at $1,000, with the RTX 5070 Ti priced at $750 and the RTX 5070 at $550. Seeing AMD’s new graphics card positioned at the higher end of that price range raises some concerns for potential buyers.

It’s crucial to note that these prices aren’t official. Even if AMD did plan for the RX 9070 XT to carry a $900 price tag, there may never be a formal acknowledgment of that plan—unless they proceed to launch it at that price, which seems unlikely. A previous pricing leakage from early January suggested that the cards would be competitively priced between $480 and $550, indicating a significant disparity.

Gplay is one of several retailers preparing to sell the RX 9070 XT. However, it appears AMD has postponed the rumored January 23 launch date. As shared by David McAfee, the RX 9000 series is now scheduled for a March release, potentially setting the RX 9070 XT on a challenging path against Nvidia’s offerings.