It’s no secret that Intel has been engaged on a brand new line of GPUs for each desktops and laptops for fairly some, and at the moment Intel lastly introduced the brand new model title protecting all of its upcoming high-end graphics merchandise: Intel Arc.

While particular particulars stay scarce, in a brand new press release revealed on Monday, Intel mentioned the primary product within the Arc household is codenamed Alchemist, and that the primary batch of Alchemist merchandise is slated to reach someday in Q1 2022.

Intel says Alchemist (which was previously referred to as DG2) is predicated on Intel’s XE HPG microarchitecture and can embrace assist for hardware-based ray tracing and AI-powered tremendous sampling, together with full DirectX 12 compatibility. Unfortunately, Intel isn’t saying a lot relating to precise efficiency metrics, although Intel has promised to offer “more specifics” about Alchemist someday earlier than the tip of the 12 months.

Regardless, Intel positioning itself to higher compete with AMD and Nvidia’s graphics choices is a giant deal, with Intel hoping to grow to be an actual third horse relating to gaming GPUs, as a substitute of merely counting on much less highly effective built-in graphics options.

Intel’s vice chairman and common supervisor of Client Graphics Products, Roger Chandler, says: 

Today marks a key second within the graphics journey we began only a few years in the past. The launch of the Intel Arc model and the reveal of future {hardware} generations signifies Intel’s deep and continued dedication to avid gamers and creators in all places. We have groups doing unimaginable work to make sure we ship first-class and frictionless experiences when these merchandise can be found early subsequent 12 months.

Looking ahead, it seems Intel is counting on an alphabetical naming scheme for future Arc generations much like what Google did for earlier Android releases, besides that as a substitute of desserts, Intel goes with fantasy lessons beginning with Alchemist, adopted by Battlemage, Celestial, and Druid.

In addition to discrete GPUs and gaming {hardware}, Intel says the Arc model may also span software program and companies, with Intel’s long-term purpose being to offer “frictionless gaming and content creation experiences to gamers and creators worldwide.”

That mentioned, Intel’s Arc merchandise will in the end stay and die based mostly on the sort of worth and efficiency they provide, together with what number of new GPUs Intel can present to retailers, which given the present availability of graphics playing cards, may end in a difficult launch with Q1 2022 simply months away.