I really want Intel to release another Battlemage GPU

Intel surprised everyone with the launch of the Arc Battlemage graphics cards, and the Arc B580, in particular. This was a $250 (MSRP) graphics card capable of 1440p ray tracing in some of the latest titles, something that no one expected from Team Blue. The budget market was, more or less, abandoned by the competition, and Intel came in with a stellar GPU that promised greater things to come.

Although the rumored Arc B770 was a no-show at Computex, I still want Intel to launch another Battlemage GPU, preferably a high-end model. More competition in the budget segment might finally force AMD and Nvidia to stop treating it like an afterthought. And seeing Intel's commitment to the Battlemage architecture, I'm optimistic we will see more Battlemage gaming GPUs soon.

3 Battlemage gave the GPU market a much-needed jolt

Nvidia and AMD were getting too comfy

Before the Battlemage launch in December, the budget GPU market wasn't so hot, at least not for consumers. The stock of Nvidia's RTX 40 series was fast evaporating from the market, and the only decent RX 7000 series cards belonged to the mid-range and high-end segments. Next-gen cards from Nvidia and AMD were delayed to 2025, and no one was considering Intel's second-gen Arc GPUs serious contenders.

When the Arc B580 and Arc B570 came out, however, glowing reviews brought the Battlemage lineup mainstream attention, and consumers took notice. Intel had made the budget segment exciting again, and the promising sales numbers showed that the demand for affordable 1440p gaming was simply waiting to be met. At a $250 MSRP, the Arc B580 beat the $299 RTX 4060 in many titles, including those with ray tracing.

AMD still doesn't have a legitimate competitor to the Arc B580. Nvidia's RTX 5060 does perform faster than the Intel GPU, but has 50% less VRAM in classic Nvidia fashion. In any case, the Arc B580 enjoyed around a 5-month uncontested run in the budget segment, and I truly hope we get a higher-end Battlemage GPU to see a repeat of the same.

2 I'm worried about high-end Battlemage SKUs being canceled

All might not be lost, though

For a while, we were sure that Intel was about to launch a higher-end Battlemage GPU in the first or second quarter of 2025. However, reports started circulating in March that Intel had canceled plans for higher-end GPUs with up to 24GB of VRAM. It was disappointing, but maybe Intel had turned its sights to its next-gen Celestial architecture already. In May, however, it seemed a given that Intel would announce the Arc B770 at Computex, but that didn't happen.

That said, the company still announced workstation and prosumer cards like the Arc Pro B60 and B50 (with 24GB and 16GB VRAM, respectively). This shows Intel isn't done with Battlemage, and we still might get the rumored Arc B770 or B750 soon. If this actually happens, Intel might go from competing with the likes of the RTX 4060 to beating GPUs like the RTX 5070 and RX 9070. Who knows, it could probably be aiming higher.

I don't want Intel's Battlemage lineup to be done with just two SKUs; this new and improved generation deserves more for it to truly shine in a GPU market that sorely needs more competition.

1 A stronger budget segment is good for everyone

A return to form

With the RTX 5060 being launched at $299, and the equally priced RX 9060 XT set to arrive on June 5th, the budget segment is finally showing some signs of life. And we might have Intel to thank for that. The Arc B580 and Arc B570 punched above their weights, and the sub-$300 segment is finally getting some much-needed attention. If Intel has a few more models in the works, I would love the company to share some details about them sooner rather than later.

A strong showing by Intel in the mid-range segment might force AMD and Nvidia to slash prices to compete. Intel's drivers are in much better shape this time around, and its XeSS tech has also matured a lot. If consumers can experience high-end 1440p gaming in the $300–$350 range, the pressure on Nvidia and AMD to rethink the definitions of the budget and mid-range segments.

Gamers need more Battlemage action ASAP

Intel's Battlemage architecture has been too successful not to get higher-end SKUs to stretch its wings. What the Arc B580 did in the budget segment can be replicated in the mid-range if Intel launches the rumored Arc B770 or other higher-end models. AMD and Nvidia have finally announced sub-$300 GPUs, but if Intel manages to release something that comfortably beats them at the same price, the GPU market will be a sight to behold.