Rumors that Intel might step away from the discrete GPU market seem to be disappearing, especially with recent evidence popping up online about their upcoming Arc Celestial “Xe3” and more advanced Battlemage “G31” chips.
### Intel’s Ongoing Commitment to Xe3 and Xe4 GPU Development with the First Look at Arc Celestial “Xe3” and Battlemage “G31”
Not long ago, Intel rolled out its next wave of Battlemage B-Series graphics cards, introducing the Arc B580 and Arc B570. These cards are laser-focused on the mainstream market, priced comfortably below $250, and are set to go head-to-head with offerings from AMD and NVIDIA.
Intel is first aiming the Arc Battlemage series at the broad audience of gamers, echoing a strategy that AMD plans to follow with its forthcoming RDNA 4 “Radeon RX 8000” series. However, Intel might be holding a few surprises up its sleeve.
In the very latest shipping manifestos from NBD.ltd, Intel’s BMG-G31 System on a Chip (SoC) has made another appearance. This suggests that there’s potential for a more sophisticated B-Series graphics card to hit shelves in the near future.
The earlier Arc B580 and B570 GPUs contain the BMG-G21 SoCs, whereas the G31 SoC is speculated to pack more Xe2 cores. This could be featured in models such as the B770. Intel’s Tom Petersen has hinted that a more robust Arc B-series card could be on the horizon, and the G31 could very well power that offering.
Switching focus to Intel’s Celestial or Xe3 discrete creations, the shipping outlet lists several “Panther Falls” discrete GPUs, Intel’s internal code for the Celestial line. All the spotted SKUs are part of the Arc lineup, according to user @Haze2K1. With the groundwork for Celestial already set, Intel’s engineers are now accelerating towards the Druid “Xe4” developments.
Social media buzz indicates that Intel is actively developing the C-Series discrete graphics cards as well, in addition to the B-Series. This is part of Intel’s strategy to roll out a comprehensive range of GPUs named after notable geographical “Falls” like Niagara, Churchill, and Panther, linking neatly with the Alchemist, Battlemage, and Celestial series.
The listings also feature various Qualification Samples, which include components like PCBs and full boards. Another intriguing finding by Tomasz Gawroński is an Intel Arc Celestial discrete GPU, possibly a 128 EU or 16 Xe3 model. It’s anticipated that Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake CPUs will incorporate Arc Xe3 GPUs up to 12 Xe3 cores, offering a more entry-level discrete option.
To wrap it up, these updates strongly counter any rumors of Arc discontinuations. With Intel launching its second-gen Arc products and signaling further developments, including high-end Battlemage GPUs, the company is clearly paving a robust future in the graphic card market. We should expect more news from Intel at CES 2025, with GPUs like the B580 and B570 reinforcing Intel’s strength in the mainstream sector.
