Intel is pushing forward with its gaming ambitions through the unveiling of its Panther Lake chipset, emphasizing that gamers don’t need an Nvidia GPU to achieve high frame rates. At the heart of this strategy is an updated version of its AI upscaler, XeSS 2, which now includes multi-frame generation—technology that inserts AI-generated frames between real ones to boost performance. Unlike Nvidia, which ties its frame generation tech, like DLSS 3 and 4, to its own RTX GPUs, Intel is making XeSS 2 hardware-agnostic. This means it can run on both Intel and AMD systems, giving more flexibility to users. The feature is designed to help lower-end devices and compact platforms like handheld PCs—such as the MSI Claw series—deliver smoother gameplay without requiring top-tier hardware. Intel’s approach centers on enabling frame generation even at lower base frame rates. While industry standards suggest a minimum of 45 to 55 fps before enabling such features to avoid visual artifacts, Intel’s Tom Petersen said the company is comfortable using multi-frame generation at 30 fps, which can be boosted to around 120 fps with 4x frame generation. During a demo of the upcoming Painkiller reboot on a pre-production Panther Lake system with 12 Xe3 GPU cores, frame rates jumped from about 50 fps to around 200 fps at 1080p. However, frame generation introduces latency because the AI must predict and insert frames based on prior ones. Intel acknowledges this delay, noting it can vary depending on the game and performance level. Petersen hinted at future innovations, including AI-driven prediction of user inputs like mouse clicks, which could help mask latency in real time. He even suggested that lower base frame rates might result in a more acceptable experience due to reduced perceptibility of delay. Intel’s XeSS 2 remains compatible with both AMD and Intel GPUs, though performance is slightly reduced on AMD systems due to the need for a compatibility layer. This makes Intel the only major U.S. chipmaker still pursuing a cross-platform AI upscaling solution. Despite progress, XeSS still lags behind competitors in game support. While Intel claims XeSS is available in over 200 games, Nvidia’s DLSS 4 is integrated into more than 175 titles, and AMD’s FSR 4—available on its latest RDNA 4 GPUs—now supports over 85 games with improved image quality and sharper details. Intel is betting that the inclusion of multi-frame generation in XeSS 2 will attract developers and gamers alike, especially as it offers a viable alternative for systems not powered by Nvidia’s hardware. The company’s goal is to position Panther Lake as a compelling option for performance-focused users across a wide range of devices.