Contrary to some reports, Intel is reportedly committed to its discrete desktop GPU ambitions beyond the upcoming Arc Battlemage series. Leaker JayKihn suggests that Arc Celestial (expected in 2025 or 2026) and Arc Druid are still under development.
Arc Battlemage and Beyond
The first Arc Battlemage card, the B580, is expected to compete with NVIDIA's RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti at a price point of around $250. While the success of Battlemage is considered crucial for the future of Intel's discrete GPU efforts, JayKihn's leak indicates that Celestial and Druid are still on track, regardless of Battlemage's performance.
Arc Celestial and Druid for Desktops
Responding to rumors that the B580 would be Intel's last desktop GPU, JayKihn stated that Celestial and Druid are "as planned as ever." This seemingly confirms Intel's continued commitment to desktop GPUs. It's also worth noting that Intel has reportedly canceled plans for discrete laptop Battlemage GPUs, a path that Celestial and Druid might also follow for mobile platforms.
Arc Celestial Specifications and Release Date
Details about Arc Celestial's specifications and performance targets are scarce. However, it's known that Celestial, like the integrated graphics in Intel's upcoming Panther Lake CPUs, will utilize the Xe3 architecture. This suggests a potential release timeframe of 2025 or early 2026, aligning with Panther Lake's launch.
The continued development of Arc Celestial and Druid is encouraging news for the desktop GPU market, which benefits from increased competition. However, given Intel's current challenges, these plans could still change.
