It all started with a new GPU announcement. The AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT is set to launch, and on paper, it looks like a solid move.

A $349 graphics card with 16GB of VRAM? Not bad. That’s more memory than some RTX 4070 cards. Sounds like AMD might finally be delivering some value again, right? 

Well, yes and no. 

Because right alongside that 16GB version, AMD is also releasing an 8GB version for $299. Same name, same chip, half the memory. And that’s where the internet lost it. 

Déjà Vu: We’ve Seen This Trick Before

If this sounds familiar, it’s because Nvidia pulled the same move with the RTX 4060 Ti. 

They sold both 8GB and 16GB versions with the same branding, but a $100 price difference. The RTX 4060 Ti 8GB launched in May 2023, and the 16GB variant followed in July. 

Gamers hated the confusion. Reviewers criticized the 8GB version’s lack of performance, especially in memory-heavy games, and the way Nvidia tried to sweep the difference under the rug. 

Performance dipped significantly at 1440p, and stuttering was a problem even in some 1080p titles.

The backlash was swift. Tech media slammed Nvidia for deceptive marketing, and buyers were left second-guessing which version they were getting. 

We’ve seen this pattern before in Nvidia’s review restrictions around the RTX 5060, where early coverage was shaped by what reviewers were allowed to test – and what they weren’t. 

It led to a mess of misinformation, bad value perceptions, and a very clear message: don’t confuse your customers. So naturally, AMD did it too. 

It’s like watching two billion-dollar companies playing a game of ‘Who Can Confuse the Customer More.’ It’s not just about the money. It’s about trust, and AMD just dumped a bunch of it off a cliff. 

Frank Azor Lights the Fuse on X

The backlash started when AMD’s Director of Gaming Marketing, Frank Azor, took to X to defend the 8GB card. 

He said that most gamers don’t need more than 8GB of VRAM and that the cheaper card still serves the mainstream crowd just fine. 

It’s the same reasoning Nvidia used last year with the RTX 4060 Ti. That didn’t work then, and it isn’t working now. 

Because when Steve from Hardware Unboxed sees a bad take like that, you know a flamethrower video is coming. And oh boy, did it come. 

Hardware Unboxed Fires Back

The backlash against AMD’s 8GB RX 9060 XT took off after a post from Hardware Unboxed on X called out the company’s defense of limited VRAM. 

In response to AMD’s claim that most gamers don’t need more than 8GB of memory, Hardware Unboxed accused them of misleading buyers and building weaker products just to hit certain price points.

The criticism gained traction fast. Tech YouTuber Vex picked up the story and added fuel to the fire by showing side-by-side gameplay comparisons. 

In multiple games, the 8GB RX 9060 XT showed serious performance issues – stuttering, frame drops, and VRAM bottlenecks – while the 16GB version handled the same titles smoothly. 

And yet, during the GPU’s official reveal, AMD only showed performance data for the 16GB card. There were no benchmarks for the 8GB version – not a single chart. That omission wasn’t lost on anyone.

If AMD truly believed the 8GB model held up under modern gaming loads, they would have shown it. The silence speaks volumes. 

Why This Actually Matters

You might be thinking: ‘So what? Some games still run fine on 8GB. I only play Valorant.’ Sure. But the problem is bigger than that.

Games are getting heavier. Even titles like Cyberpunk 2077, released in 2020, can eat up more than 8GB of VRAM. And with GTA 6 (still) on the horizon, do you really think game developers are going to keep optimizing for 8GB cards in 2025?

That’s not how game development works. Developers target the most common setups, yes. But hardware also shapes software. 

If everyone’s stuck with 8GB, games will be designed around that limit. That holds back progress for everyone. 

It’s like trying to make a movie with a flip phone because some people still own one.

Same Name, Different Game

Another big issue is how these cards are named and sold. 

The RX 9060 XT 16GB and RX 9060 XT 8GB are not clearly labeled as different products. They’re just two versions of the same GPU. 

But that extra memory makes a huge difference. 

In some games, the 8GB card performs dramatically worse. And yet, unless you know what to look for, you might walk into a store and buy the 8GB version thinking you’re getting the same performance. 

You’re not. You’re getting a watered-down version with the same name and a silent asterisk.

This isn’t just AMD’s Problem

Nvidia started this mess with the 4060 Ti naming confusion. AMD just saw the outrage and decided to walk straight into the same buzzsaw. 

It’s hard not to feel like both companies are treating consumers like they’re too dumb to notice.

Spoiler: they noticed.

And this whole ‘VRAM doesn’t matter’ argument? It’s already been debunked by dozens of reviewers. 

If you’re spending over $300 on a graphics card in 2025, it needs to last more than a year or two. 8GB cards are already struggling. Buying one now is like buying a smartphone in 2025 with 64GB of storage. Sure, it works. Until it doesn’t.

Steam Data Doesn’t Help AMD’s Case

AMD and Nvidia both love to point at the Steam Hardware Survey. They say, ‘See? Most people still play at 1080p.’ And that’s true – for now.

But what they leave out is that 1440p gaming is growing fast. More gamers are upgrading their setups because 1440p monitors are getting a lot more affordable. 

Take the Pixio PXC277 Advanced, for instance – a 27-inch curved 1440p monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, all for $219.99. A few years ago, a screen like that would’ve cost you double. Now it’s entry-level.

Gamers are ready to step up their experience. The only thing holding them back is GPU hardware that’s still stuck in 2020. 

Planned Obsolescence in Disguise

Here’s the worst part. Companies know full well that 8GB won’t cut it in 2026. 

But they still sell it, knowing many gamers will only find out when it’s too late – when the stutters kick in, the textures disappear, or the next big title becomes unplayable.

It’s planned obsolescence disguised as ‘choice.’ And while it’s great to have options at different price points, it should be clear which option is built to last – and which one is built to frustrate. 

So, Is AMD Actually Screwed? 

Not right now. In fact, they’re playing the game better than they used to. 

They’ve learned from past pricing disasters and figured out how to get better launch-day headlines – even if it means faking the MSRP and letting street prices run wild. 

But this kind of marketing comes at a cost. If AMD keeps making decisions that prioritize short-term wins over long-term trust, they’ll lose the very crowd that once rooted for them. 

We don’t need two Nvidias. We need AMD to be different – to be better. 

One Name, Two Very Different Cards

The RX 9060 XT 16GB might be a good deal. But it’s being overshadowed by the 8GB version’s drama. And the longer AMD keeps playing games with memory and naming, the more it chips away at its hard-earned goodwill. 

This whole mess could’ve been avoided with one simple move: name the 8GB card something else. Call it the RX 9055. Call it Lite or whatever. Just don’t make it look like the same card when it isn’t. 

Until then, buyers beware. There’s more going on behind the box art than meets the eye.