Intel could launch 4th Gen Arc “Druid” GPU series already in 2025

Intel Arc plans, Druid in 2025?

Unlike AMD and NVIDIA, Intel confirmed its discrete GPU roadmap featuring as many as four generations ahead. What the roadmap was clearly lacking though, were the dates when those products are supposed to launch. 

Intel Arc “Druid”, Source: Intel/VideoCardz (colorization)

So far, the company only confirmed plans for four generations of ARC product series: Alchemist, Battlemage, Celestial, and Druid. Intel fans were quick to connect the dots and began asking if the 5th Gen Arc series will continue with alphabetical naming, which was seemingly confirmed by Intel later. The first generation called Alchemist is now scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2022 for the mobile market and in the second quarter for desktops.

Meanwhile, the details on Arc Druid are very limited at this time. Intel already confirmed it will feature Xe Next Architecture, which might suggest it will be the first true successor to Xe HPG. While 2nd Gen Arc “Battlemage” is rumored to launch in 2023, there were no dates associated with Celestian and Druid.

As it turns out, Druid could launch in 2025, as suggested by Bryce, who is Intel’s Arc Community Advocate and Driver Guru:

Naturally, such a tweet should be taken with a grain of salt, however, Druid being a 2025 product was an educated guess for many. Intel was simply reluctant to confirm it at this point in time, after all, we are talking about a product four generations ahead.

Should Druid really come in 2025, then Intel will be releasing its Arc GPU series in yearly cadence, as opposed to their competitors who now launch new architectures every two years.

via: Reddit