Intel unveils Arc G-Series chips for next-gen handheld consoles

Intel has unveiled its new Arc G-Series chips designed specifically for next-generation handheld gaming consoles. According to Engadget on 28 May, the Arc G-Series chips are built on the Core Ultra 3 architecture and will come in two variants: Arc G3 and G3 Extreme. Both variants feature the Intel Arc B390 GPU, which supports real-time ray tracing for more realistic shadows and lighting, along with AI-powered graphics enhancement technology XeSS 3. Intel stated that the chips will be used in several handheld gaming consoles in the coming months, including the Acer Predator Atlas 8, MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and OneXPlayer. Although full technical details have not been disclosed, Intel confirmed the Arc G-Series will feature two performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power efficiency cores. As a modified version of the Core Ultra 3 chip, the new line is manufactured using Intel’s 18A process. It will support Wi-Fi 7 R2, Thunderbolt 4, and dual-band Bluetooth 6 connectivity. On the software side, Intel has optimised the Arc G-Series for Xbox Full Screen Mode on Windows 11, providing a more comfortable gaming experience rather than relying on the standard Windows interface, which is considered less optimal for portable devices. Additionally, Intel has introduced the Precompiled Shaders feature, enabling games to load animations and visuals faster via cloud-optimised shaders, eliminating the need for on-device processing. Current games supporting this feature include Black Myth: Wukong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and The Outer Worlds 2.