Intel Continues to Innovate in Desktop GPUs as New Battlemage Models Emerge in Shipping Records

Intel is clearly not giving up on shaking up the discrete GPU market. Shipping manifests have recently hinted at ongoing development surrounding the Battlemage lineup and an intriguing new SKU that has managed to capture some attention.

Last year, Intel made waves by unveiling two new entries in the Battlemage series—the Arc B580 and B570. These GPUs stirred up significant interest, primarily because competitors like NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t yet rolled out their next-gen offerings. But as the second quarter of the year wraps up, Intel has remained tight-lipped regarding any fresh plans targeting the desktop GPU arena. This silence led many to speculate that Intel, or Team Blue as they are often called, might have lost its drive in this segment. However, recent shipping manifests paint a different picture.

Intel’s newest manifests introduce “BMG-G31,” a piece of silicon poised to surpass current Battlemage GPUs. Rumor has it that this variant could boast 24 to 32 Xe2 cores, a hefty 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Initially, there were rumblings that the BMG-G31 might be shelved, with some insiders suggesting that Intel wasn’t planning on a consumer release. However, the shipping documentation lists it under “R&D purpose,” hinting that this particular model might be destined for AI or professional use.

In addition to this, yet another shipping manifest orders attention toward something labeled the BMG “C32.” The name itself raises eyebrows due to its blend of Battlemage and Celestial terminology. However, word on the street is that it’s part of the Battlemage lineup—a potential “reworked” version of the “BMG-G31,” as suggested by @mikdt. It’s quite evident that Intel is juggling multiple Battlemage projects, but whether they’re aimed at desktop users remains the million-dollar question.

Intel’s strategy for its discrete GPU series could take fascinating turns. With Panther Lake SoCs expected to integrate the anticipated Xe3 “Celestial” architecture, and under new leadership that prioritizes AI advancements, Team Blue seems likely to steer its GPU efforts more toward AI-focused applications.