Intel BMG G31 Firmware Surfaces in Driver Package, but Arc B770 Release Plans Remain a Mystery
Few unreleased graphics cards have generated as much prolonged discussion as Intel’s Arc B770. Despite months of leaks, references, and indirect confirmations, Intel has consistently avoided addressing the GPU publicly, including during CES, where questions around a higher tier Battlemage card were notably sidestepped. Now, a new driver related discovery adds yet another data point to the puzzle, without bringing any clarity on when or if Arc B770 will actually reach consumers.
As highlighted by hardware leaker Haze2K1 on X, a Reddit user uncovered references to a BMG G31 firmware inside an Intel GPU driver package. The finding was originally posted on Reddit at and shows multiple firmware binaries explicitly named bmg g31, sitting alongside other Battlemage related files.
Specifically, the firmware folder contains files labeled bmg e g21 fwupdate bin, bmg g21 fwupdate bin, and bmg g31 fwupdate bin, all sharing identical file sizes. The presence of a dedicated G31 firmware strongly suggests early or preliminary enablement work for a higher tier Battlemage GPU, as G31 has long been associated in leaks with a more powerful die intended for mid range or upper mid range products.
This is not the first time BMG G31 has appeared in official tooling. Intel previously added references to the same chip identifier in its VTune Profiler software, reinforcing the idea that internal validation and software readiness efforts are ongoing. Intel itself has also briefly acknowledged Battlemage G31 in past public facing materials or social media posts, only to later remove or walk back those mentions, which has further fueled speculation rather than resolving it.
What remains unclear is Intel’s actual go to market plan. According to earlier leaks, BMG G31 is expected to underpin both consumer and professional variants, which aligns with long standing expectations around an Arc B770 SKU. However, Intel has not shared timelines, positioning, or even confirmation that such a product will ship, and its silence at CES was particularly telling given the attention on competing GPUs and AI driven market shifts.
The timing is becoming increasingly awkward. It has been roughly a year since Intel launched its first Battlemage discrete GPUs, yet gamers currently only have access to lower tier options like the Arc B580 and Arc B570. While these cards have improved efficiency and maturity over Alchemist, they do not meaningfully address the mainstream mid range segment where volume and mindshare are won. A BMG G31 based Arc B770, especially one rumored to feature a stronger chip and 16GB of VRAM, would theoretically be Intel’s most credible play in that space.
For now, the leaked firmware confirms that Battlemage G31 is not dead inside Intel’s software stack, but it does not answer the only question that really matters to gamers and builders. When, or if, Intel plans to release an Arc B770 remains completely unknown.
Do you think Intel is still planning a proper Arc B770 launch, or has Battlemage already been quietly sidelined in favor of future GPU architectures?
