Intel Unveils Arc Celestial “Xe3” & Battlemage “G31” GPUs, Signaling Major Push into Discrete Graphics Segment

Amid swirling rumors of Intel possibly stepping away from the discrete GPU market, new evidence has surfaced online supporting their continued commitment to next-gen graphics technology, specifically the Arc Celestial “Xe3” and high-end Battlemage “G31” chips.

Intel recently showcased its upcoming Battlemage B-Series, unveiling graphics cards like the Arc B580 and Arc B570. These models, aimed squarely at mainstream gamers with prices under $250, are poised to take on current and forthcoming offerings from competitors AMD and NVIDIA.

While Intel focuses on the gaming crowd first with its Battlemage lineup, AMD gears up with its RDNA 4 “Radeon RX 8000” series. However, industry watchers speculate that Intel might have a few tricks up its sleeve for future surprises.

On social media, images have emerged of a significant shipment of Battlemage G31 from Malaysia, sparking curiosity among enthusiasts. In shipping logs from NBD.ltd, there’s evidence of the Intel BMG-G31 SoC, hinting at potential high-end B-Series graphics cards coming soon.

The B580 and B570 use BMG-G21 SoCs, but the G31 chip reportedly ups the ante with more Xe2 cores, likely for a speculated B770 SKU. Intel’s Tom Petersen even suggested on a recent live show that a more robust Arc B-series card is on the horizon, arguably pointing to this development.

Turning to Intel’s future vision with its Celestial or Xe3 GPUs, listings of “Panther Falls” discrete GPUs appear in shipping manifests. This codename is linked to the Celestial lineup. Intel confirms that the Celestial work is done, with energies now directed towards creating the Druid “Xe4” series.

In anticipation of Intel’s broader reveal tomorrow, whispers suggest that C-Series discrete cards are also in the works. As Intel moves forward, they’ve shared plans pointing to a wide range of products under codenamed architectures, indicating a comprehensive lineup from Alchemist to the distant Druid.

Among the buzz, Tomasz Gawronski has identified another Intel Arc Celestial discrete GPU, possibly boasting 128 Execution Units or a 16 Xe3 configuration. Intel’s future Panther Lake CPUs will likely incorporate Arc Xe3 GPUs with up to 12 Xe3 cores, hinting at this model being an entry-level choice.

The ongoing moves from Intel seemingly put to bed any rumors about the Arc line’s demise. With their second-generation Arc releases and announcements hinting at next-gen (and even next-next-gen) products, plus teasing high-end Battlemage cards, Intel is solidifying its GPU roadmap. Expect more from Intel about their discrete GPU strategies at CES 2025. Meanwhile, the B580 and B570 stand ready to stake a claim in the mainstream gaming arena.

The table below outlines Intel’s ARC Gaming GPU lineup, showcasing their ambitious plans across several generations and beyond, reaffirming Intel’s serious re-entry into the GPU market.

(Refer to accompanying table for detailed GPU lineup and specifications.)