Is Integrated Graphics on Laptops the Future of PC Gaming?

An Asus executive has shared insights into the evolving role of integrated graphics in the future of PC gaming. During an interview with Tom's Guide at CES 2026, Sascha Krohn, Director of Technical Marketing at Asus, suggested that integrated graphics are approaching a point where they could become a viable alternative to discrete GPUs for gaming.

The Evolution of Integrated Graphics

Integrated graphics, which are built into the CPU rather than being separate hardware, traditionally lagged behind dedicated graphics cards in performance. However, recent advancements have pushed the boundaries of what integrated solutions can achieve. For instance, Intel's Panther Lake CPUs, Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, and AMD's Strix Halo are pushing integrated graphics performance higher than ever before.

Krohn notes:

"We’re definitely getting into the territory where that becomes a possibility. It’s just a matter of time."

While he admits it's not clear if we're there yet, the trend indicates progress toward integrated graphics potentially handling more demanding games, like Cyberpunk 2077, which now runs impressively on integrated solutions.

Discrete GPUs vs. Integrated Graphics

Despite these advancements, the dominance of discrete GPUs remains firmly in place. Gamers and power users often require the high performance and flexibility provided by dedicated graphics cards, especially for 4K gaming, VR, and other demanding applications. Krohn explains:

"Calling a gaming laptop with integrated graphics a dedicated gaming device is a whole other story. Expectations are higher, and dedicated GPUs are likely to remain relevant for many years."

This ongoing need for performance, coupled with the relentless pace of GPU improvements, means integrated graphics are unlikely to fully replace discrete cards anytime soon. Still, the gap is narrowing, and for many casual or mainstream gamers, integrated graphics might soon suffice.

The Road Ahead

Despite current limitations, integrated graphics are set to improve further. However, whether they will eventually make discrete GPUs obsolete hinges on multiple factors:

• Market Acceptance: How willing consumers are to accept integrated solutions for gaming.
• Performance Benchmarks: Continued improvements in integrated GPU performance.
• Thermal and Power Constraints: Managing higher power consumption within laptop chassis.
• Industry Trends: Whether AI and other emerging technologies shift focus away from traditional gaming GPUs.

Krohn emphasizes:

"The expectations when you call it a gaming laptop are probably higher. Discrete GPUs won't disappear overnight, but it's possible that in the future, integrated graphics could handle the majority of gaming needs."

Conclusion

While integrated graphics continue to progress rapidly, dedicated GPUs are expected to remain the optimal choice for high-end gaming for the foreseeable future. The real question is when integrated solutions will perform well enough for most gamers' expectations—something that might be closer than we think, but still probably a few years away. Advances in cooling and power management in laptops may also play a critical role in this transition.

As the industry evolves, it will be fascinating to see whether the future of PC gaming leans more toward integrated graphics or maintains the supremacy of dedicated graphics cards. For now, gamers requiring top-tier performance will likely continue to invest in dedicated GPUs, but the era of truly portable, high-performance gaming on integrated graphics may be on the horizon.

Stay tuned with TechRadar for all the latest updates from CES 2026 and beyond.