- Intel’s new job listing shows it is still developing high-end discrete Arc GPUs.
- Fears grew after Intel’s Nvidia deal, but that partnership focuses mostly on data centers.
- Rumors suggest the new card could be Battlemage, Celestial, or even Druid.
- Intel currently has less than 1% of the GPU market, but a new launch could boost competition.
Rumors of Intel abandoning its Arc graphics cards have been spreading ever since the company announced a deal with Nvidia.
Many thought this agreement meant the end of Intel’s journey in the desktop GPU market. However, a recent job listing suggests otherwise and brings a spark of hope for those who want more competition in the graphics world.
The Nvidia Deal Sparked Worries
Earlier this year, Intel revealed a major partnership with Nvidia. The agreement allows Nvidia to provide its RTX GPU chiplets for Intel’s future systems on chips (SoCs), which could be used in laptops, handheld gaming devices, and even some data center products.
This announcement made enthusiasts nervous. If Intel was planning to use Nvidia’s powerful GPUs in its own processors, what would happen to Arc, Intel’s line of discrete graphics cards? Would the company stop investing in desktop GPUs altogether?
Intel clarified that its roadmap remains unchanged. Still, because the statement didn’t specifically confirm the future of discrete Arc graphics cards, the doubt continued to grow. For many, it seemed like Intel might eventually cut its losses and walk away from a market dominated by Nvidia and AMD.
A Job Ad Brings Back Optimism
Now, fresh news has appeared that paints a brighter picture. According to VideoCardz, a leaker named Haze on X (formerly Twitter) noticed a new Intel job advert on LinkedIn. The role is for an engineer who will work on “gaming validation and optimization” for desktop GPUs. The description even mentions “high-end designs” with a focus on “dGFX,” which means discrete graphics.
This single job post might not sound like much, but it strongly suggests that Intel is still putting resources into high-performance desktop graphics cards. It would not make sense for the company to recruit engineers for a new GPU project if it had already decided to pull the plug on Arc.
Which Graphics Card Could This Be?
The real question is which GPU Intel might be working on. There are a few possible answers.
- Battlemage: Intel’s second-generation Arc cards are known as Battlemage. There have been ongoing rumors that a high-end Battlemage card is still in the pipeline, even though details have been scarce and speculation has been mixed.
- Celestial: This is Intel’s third-generation GPU architecture, also called Xe3. It is expected to power future integrated and discrete graphics. Many believe this could be the technology behind Intel’s next major desktop GPU release.
- Druid: Intel has also named its fourth-generation GPUs Druid. Some leakers have suggested that the high-end desktop card hinted at in the job ad could be from this upcoming line.
At this stage, nothing is confirmed, but the fact that multiple generations of Arc are already on the roadmap shows Intel is not short of options.
The State of Intel in the GPU Market
Right now, Intel’s place in the GPU market is very small. Reports suggest that the company holds less than one percent of discrete graphics card sales, while Nvidia dominates with more than 90 percent. AMD sits in between with its Radeon series.
This tiny market share has fueled the belief that Intel might eventually abandon desktop graphics cards. After all, developing GPUs is expensive, and competing with two well-established rivals is a tough challenge.
Yet despite the odds, Intel’s existing Arc cards, like the B580 and B570, have been appreciated by gamers who want strong performance at lower prices. They may not match Nvidia’s top-tier offerings, but they provide solid value for those who cannot or will not pay premium prices.
Industry Voices Add More Color
Some industry insiders remain doubtful about Intel’s long-term plans. YouTuber Moore’s Law is Dead has described Arc discrete GPUs as “effectively dead” already, suggesting that Intel will eventually stop making them. He believes the company may focus more on integrated graphics and its Nvidia partnership instead.
On the other hand, sources speaking to PC Gamer have noted that the Nvidia deal is aimed primarily at data center solutions rather than consumer graphics cards.
If true, that means gamers may not feel the impact of this partnership until much later, possibly around 2028, when Intel’s Titan Lake processors could arrive. These chips might use Nvidia GPUs in some models while continuing to rely on Intel’s own graphics in others.
A Glimpse of Hope for Gamers
For gamers and PC enthusiasts, the possibility of another strong player in the GPU market is exciting. Right now, Nvidia leads with a near monopoly, and AMD is fighting to keep up. If Intel can deliver a competitive high-end Arc card, whether it’s Battlemage, Celestial, or even Druid—it could give buyers more choice and push down prices across the board.
The new job advert is a small but important sign that Intel is not ready to step away from the desktop GPU market. Instead, the company appears to be pushing ahead with development, even if progress has been slower than expected.
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