Intel has no plans of stepping back in the discrete GPU (dGPU) market, as recent shipping manifests have unveiled some intriguing developments: a new Battlemage variant and another mysterious SKU.
Intel’s Battlemage “BMG-G31” Seems to Gear Up for AI and Professional Tasks
Last year, Intel caught everyone’s attention with the announcement of two Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B580 and B570. Their release sparked considerable excitement, largely because NVIDIA and AMD were yet to launch their next-gen offerings. As we near the end of Q2 without any fresh updates from Intel on their desktop GPU ambitions, many assumed Team Blue was taking a backseat. However, recent shipping manifest details suggest otherwise.
What do they mean by this pic.twitter.com/tOmqVBsMB2
— Haze (@Haze2K1) April 18, 2025
Examining the manifests, we come across the “BMG-G31,” which appears to be a more advanced silicon than current Battlemage models. Initially, there were whispers about this variant potentially boasting 24-32 Xe2 cores, paired with a 256-bit memory bus and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Yet, rumors are now circulating online about its possible cancellation, with suggestions that Intel isn’t planning to introduce it to the consumer market. Instead, these manifest descriptions hint at an “R&D purpose,” indicating that this model might be tailored for AI or professional applications.
Adding to this intrigue is a mention of another puzzling variant, the BMG “C32”. The naming could easily cause confusion since it combines elements from both Battlemage and Celestial lineups. Still, according to @mikdt, this model falls under the Battlemage category and might just be a revamped version of the “BMG-G31.” Given these developments, it’s clear Intel is juggling multiple Battlemage models, but their destination remains uncertain—are they aiming for the desktop market or not?
Looking ahead, it’ll be fascinating to see Intel’s next move for their discrete GPU offerings, especially since they’re working on the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture to be featured in Panther Lake SoCs. With a new CEO steering the company, Intel’s focus appears to be shifting towards AI, hinting that their next GPU releases may lean heavily into AI-centric roles.
