Excitement is building for MSI fans as the company hints at the return of its iconic “Lightning” series, set to make a thunderous comeback at CES 2026. The GeForce RTX lineup is about to receive a power boost, with the high-performance “Lightning” models ready to reclaim their spot at the top of the overclocking segment.
The Grand Return of MSI’s Lightning Series
After a year of silence since showcasing the GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning graphics card, MSI has finally dropped a teaser for its upcoming next-gen Lightning graphics card. The anticipated reveal aligns with a media event on January 5th, marked by an “MSI Weather Forecast” that predicts a storm of innovation.
Expectations are high that the new Lightning GPU will debut with the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, as MSI previously hinted. Reports suggest that MSI has also previewed two “Special Edition” designs, which are essentially the anticipated “Lightning” models.
Technical Innovations and Features
The first model offers air cooling with five Stormforce fans for superior thermal performance, packaged in a triple-slot form. Meanwhile, the liquid-cooled variant employs the MSI HydroCool system and features four fans, dual 120mm radiators, and an intricate dual airflow channeling system. Although details remain sparse, it’s confirmed that MSI is testing “OC” GPUs with enhanced voltage control and tuning options.
MSI’s “Lightning” series is poised for a spectacular relaunch, signaling a new era for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards.
The last update to this legendary lineup was with the RTX 2080 Ti Lightning OC in 2019, and enthusiasts are eager to see what MSI has up its sleeve this time around.