Intel is clearly intent on making waves in the discrete graphics card market, as new shipping manifests have indicated ongoing development on the Battlemage series, along with a mysterious new SKU.
## Intel Revitalizes Work on Battlemage “BMG-G31” Variant, Potentially Targeting AI and Professional Tasks
Last year, Intel caught everyone off guard by unveiling two fresh GPUs in their Battlemage lineup, the Arc B580 and B570. They generated quite a buzz, mainly because NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t yet released their next-gen options. Fast forward to the end of Q2, and there’s still no word from Intel on their plans for desktop GPUs, leading many to assume that the company had shifted focus. However, recent shipping manifests paint a different picture.
One particular manifest hints at a new player called “BMG-G31,” an upgraded chip compared to current Battlemage models. Sources suggest that this variant might boast around 24-32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6. Despite rumors swirling about the BMG-G31 being shelved and not intended for consumers, it’s categorized under “R&D purpose” in the manifests, hinting at a focus on AI and professional applications.
Additionally, there’s mention of an intriguing variant, dubbed BMG “C32.” The combination of Battlemage and Celestial initials might seem puzzling, but it’s reported to be part of the Battlemage family. Speculations suggest the BMG “C32” is a modified version of the “BMG-G31,” hinting that Intel is exploring multiple avenues with the Battlemage series—though it’s unclear if they’re targeting the desktop market.
It will be fascinating to witness Intel’s strategy unfold for their discrete GPU range, particularly as they’re simultaneously developing the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture, soon to be integrated into Panther Lake SoCs. With Intel’s new CEO steering the ship, a strategic pivot towards AI seems likely, implying that Intel’s next set of GPUs might be geared more towards AI-centric tasks than traditional consumer use.
