The latest report states that Intel has canceled the production of its premium tier GPUs, the Xe2 Arc Battlemage “BMG-G31” graphics cards. This development is quite significant in relation to what the company has previously planned because it indicates that Intel is pulling away from the race for high end GPU market. Speculation suggests that the company withdrew these targets in Q3 of 2024 which came off as a shock to many industry insiders.
Intel Cancels High-End Xe2 Arc Battlemage GPUs: A Change in Focus
Intel initially had high expectations for the Arc Battlemage family. The BMG-G31 was set to feature a staggering 24GB VRAM, a 256-bit memory bus, and 32 Xe2 cores, directly competing with NVIDIA and AMD. Some reports claim that Intel sent out test units in late 2024.
Nonetheless, it now appears that these GPUs will not be released after all. Intel initially marketed its Arc products as a viable option against competitors elbows deep in the GPU market. Mid range models such as the Arc B580 and B570 were popular due to their impressive performance value. Now, however, it seems that Intel plans to compete with more budget friendly options.
Intel’s New GPU Strategy
With the cancellation of the top tier Battlemage GPUs, it may appear that Intel has abandoned the graphics market completely. However, the company is now concentrating on budget integrated and discrete graphics that appeal to a wider user base and gamers on a budget.
Intel is also developing the next generation Xe3 Celestial architecture. Rumors suggest this will make its way into the future Panther Lake processors. If Intel applies the 18A process to these chips, they will become more powerful and efficient than their predecessors. As promising as this all sounds, no one has really provided any important details regarding the development of Xe3 Celestial.
What This Means for the Industry
The cutting back of resources for the production of the Battlemage GPUs will no doubt be a let down. All the evidence points towards the assumption that Intel will not be competing within the upper tier GPU market which is now devoid of a plethora of competitors. This gives NVIDIA and AMD the chance to further strengthen their grasp on the industry while leading to inflated prices and reduced choices for consumers.
Tell me, do you believe this was a good decision from Intel? Do you think the company should keep investing in powerful GPU technology? Let me know your answer down below!
Source: Giz China
