- Leaker claims that Intel Battlemage desktop GPUs will arrive in December
- However, previous rumors suggested an early 2025 launch
- Intel may want to go the extra mile to get ahead of AMD and Nvidia’s CES launches
Intel could bring us new budget GPUs as early as December in the form of the first second-generation Arc graphics cards known as Battlemage.
VideoCardz I picked up a new rumor about the Battlemage series, as broadcast by the regular leaking Golden Pig Upgrade (or GPU – see what they did there?) on Weibo.
We’re told (via translation) that Battlemage desktop graphics cards will be released next month, and the leaker hopes they won’t perform any less “brilliantly.” Something may have been lost in translation, but most likely this is hope rather than prediction.
Of course, it’s a hope we all share, because the bottom end of the graphics card market could really use a boost.
If you’re familiar with the long-standing rumors surrounding Battlemage, you’ll probably remember that the expectation is that Intel will only produce entry-level 2nd generation Arc GPUs, and nothing above budget. But if these are great budget GPUs – fingers crossed – or even decent ones, then they’ll be very welcome.
Analysis: Towards AMD and Nvidia at the pass?
As always, this is just a rumor, and it could come to nothing, but this nugget from the grapevine is backed up by other recent speculation. Previous rumors on Weibo point to a Battlemage launch before the end of 2024 (complete with a significant generational boost, we should note), and Intel is already working on third-generation Celestial graphics. Another rumor pointed out by VideoCardz even suggests a November launch.
That said, there has previously been a consistent thread of rumors that the next generation of Arc graphics cards might not hit the market until early 2025.
However, it’s possible Intel will step things up and aim to launch in December to generate its own publicity with less headwind – rather than having to compete with the noise of AMD and Nvidia, whose next-gen launches are on the horizon . CES 2025 if the rumor mill is right. Why wait until early 2025, when you can get in first, and hype Battlemage more effectively that way?
That could potentially mean a paper launch – as there isn’t much stock available – but we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. Even in that scenario, it will still be very interesting to see what Intel has planned for Battlemage, because as mentioned, the budget sector of the GPU market is in dire need of rejuvenation.
Nvidia is making no effort at all in the lower end, and AMD’s supposed budget RDNA 3 offerings – the RX 7400 and 7300 – have also yet to appear (and seem highly unlikely at this point).
We could really use more good budget GPU options at the most affordable end of the market – the RX 6600 is looking a bit tired and over-relied on at the moment – so let’s hope the latest rumors about an earlier launch of Battlemage are on the money.