Intel Arc Celestial (C-Series): The Next-Gen GPUs for 2026

Intel’s Arc Celestial (C-Series) GPUs, based on the Xe3 architecture, are poised to elevate Team Blue’s presence in the graphics market, with a potential launch in 2026. Following the successful mid-range Arc Battlemage B580 and B570 GPUs, Celestial aims to compete with NVIDIA’s Rubin RTX 60-series and AMD’s RDNA 5 (UDNA). While details are limited, recent leaks and industry developments suggest Celestial could bring high-end performance and advanced features like GDDR7 memory. This article explores the latest rumors, expected specs, and Celestial’s role in the competitive GPU landscape.

Arc Celestial: Intel’s Ambitious Step Forward

The Arc Celestial lineup, codenamed Xe3, is Intel’s third-generation GPU architecture, succeeding Battlemage (Xe2). Recent reports indicate that Celestial has reached pre-silicon validation, a key milestone toward production, with discrete GPUs expected to target both gaming and professional workloads. Unlike Battlemage’s focus on mid-range value, Celestial is rumored to include high-end models, potentially challenging NVIDIA’s RTX 6090 and AMD’s RDNA 5 flagships.

Release Timeline and Architecture

Intel’s Arc Celestial GPUs are expected to launch in 2026, likely in Q2 or Q3, following the release of Panther Lake CPUs with integrated Xe3 graphics in late 2025. A job listing spotted in April 2025 suggests Intel is working on GDDR7 memory for Celestial, aligning it with NVIDIA’s RTX 50-series and potentially outpacing AMD’s RDNA 5, which may stick with GDDR6 for some models. Leaks also point to Celestial using a modified Xe3P architecture, possibly manufactured on Intel’s in-house 18A process node instead of TSMC’s, marking a shift from Battlemage’s TSMC 4nm process.

Expected Features and Performance

While specific core counts and clock speeds remain undisclosed, Celestial is expected to build on Battlemage’s strengths. Key rumored features include:

• GDDR7 Memory: Offering higher bandwidth for 4K gaming and AI workloads, potentially with 16–32GB configurations.
• XeSS 2 Frame Generation: Enhanced upscaling and frame generation to rival NVIDIA’s DLSS 5 and AMD’s FSR 5.
• Improved Ray Tracing: Significant boosts over Battlemage’s Xe2 cores, aiming to close the gap with NVIDIA’s ray-tracing prowess.
• AI Acceleration: Optimized XMX engines for AI-driven tasks, competing with NVIDIA’s Tensor Cores and AMD’s WMMA.
• High-End Potential: Speculated models like the Arc C770 could feature 24–32 Xe3 cores with a 256-bit memory bus, targeting NVIDIA’s RTX 5060 and AMD’s RX 9060 XT.

Performance rumors suggest Celestial could offer a 20–30% uplift over Battlemage’s B580, which already competes with NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 at $249. If Celestial delivers high-end models, it could challenge the RTX 6090’s rumored 36,864 CUDA cores, though Intel’s focus may remain on value-driven pricing.

Competitive Landscape

Intel’s Arc B580 and B570 GPUs, launched in late 2024, earned praise for 1440p gaming at budget prices ($249 and $219), but Intel canceled its high-end Battlemage BMG-G31 GPU, leaving NVIDIA’s RTX 5090 ($1,999) unchallenged. Celestial aims to fill this gap, with leaks suggesting a focus on high-end discrete GPUs. NVIDIA’s Rubin RTX 60-series, expected in late 2026, will lead with DLSS 5 and a 3nm process, while AMD’s RDNA 5 (UDNA) targets similar high-end performance. Intel’s challenge is to match their performance while maintaining affordability, leveraging its XeSS 2 technology and potential in-house 18A fabrication for cost efficiency.

The GPU market remains dominated by NVIDIA (83.07% share, Steam Hardware Survey, February 2025), with AMD at 11.49%. Intel’s Arc lineup has carved a niche in the budget segment, but Celestial must overcome skepticism about Intel’s driver support and compete with NVIDIA’s robust software ecosystem.

Challenges and Expectations

Celestial faces several hurdles:

• Driver Maturity: Intel’s Battlemage drivers improved significantly, but Celestial must launch with robust software to avoid Alchemist’s early issues.
• High-End Viability: Board partners like MSI skipped Battlemage due to low demand; Intel must convince manufacturers to support Celestial’s high-end models.
• Pricing Pressure: With NVIDIA’s RTX 6090 potentially costing $2,499, Intel must keep Celestial affordable to attract gamers.

Intel’s shift to in-house 18A fabrication could lower costs and boost performance, but yields and scalability remain unproven. The inclusion of GDDR7 and XeSS 2 suggests Intel is serious about competing in the high-end space.

Speculative Feature Table: Arc Celestial vs. Battlemage

GPU	Release Year	Cores	VRAM	Process Node
Arc B580 (Battlemage)	2024	20 Xe2 cores	12GB GDDR6	TSMC 4nm
Arc C770 (Celestial)	2026	24–32 Xe3 cores (speculated)	16–32GB GDDR7 (speculated)	Intel 18A (speculated)

Why Arc Celestial Matters

Intel’s Arc Celestial GPUs could mark a turning point, bringing high-end performance to compete with NVIDIA and AMD while maintaining the value-driven approach that made Battlemage a budget champion. With GDDR7 memory and XeSS 2, Celestial is poised for 4K gaming and AI workloads, potentially at lower prices than NVIDIA’s RTX 60-series. If Intel delivers on driver support and manufacturing, Celestial could disrupt the GPU market and challenge NVIDIA’s dominance.

Conclusion

Intel’s Arc Celestial (C-Series) GPUs, expected in 2026, promise to elevate Intel’s graphics ambitions with Xe3P architecture, GDDR7 memory, and high-end potential. While competing with NVIDIA’s Rubin and AMD’s RDNA 5 will be tough, Celestial’s focus on value and in-house fabrication could make it a game-changer for budget-conscious gamers. Stay tuned for Computex 2026 updates as Intel reveals more about its next-gen GPUs!

Are you excited for Celestial’s high-end potential or curious about its pricing?