Nvidia’s Shield Tablet and wireless controller makes a play for gamers

By Michael Lee July 22, 2014

nvidia shield 32gb 4g update tablet — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nvidia’s Shield brand just grew by one, with the introduction of the Shield Tablet, which the company dubbed “the ultimate tablet for gamers.” The 8-inch high-def Android tablet is fitted with Nvidia’s powerful Tegra K1 mobile processor. It also boasts a 5-megapixel front-facing camera that’s meant to appeal to Twitch streamers and support for MicroSD cards as large as 128GB.

Features like the ability to stream games from your PC to your Shield Tablet anywhere in your home, using the same GameStream technology that the original Shield used (assuming your PC has a GeForce GTX 650 video card or higher). The tablet also supports cloud streaming via Nvidia’s Grid service, which is currently still in its beta phase, as well as game broadcasting via Twitch.

Gamers will be able to capture and broadcast their gameplay without the need for additional equipment or software, and with built-in support utilizing the 5-megapixel camera, microphone, and chat overlays, the tablet will be able to be stream to Twitch with no additional peripherals needed. The Verge’s first look at the product says the Twitch integration “works very quickly and simply.” Engadget senior editor Ben Gilbert said in his preview that “gaming on the Shield Tablet is a smooth, easy experience…” and “PC games continue to both look and feel great.” That said, both articles are lukewarm on whether the Shield Tablet will be a success or is entirely necessary.

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In addition to the tablet, Nvidia also announced the Shield Wireless Controller, which can be paired with the tablet for a more complete gaming experience. The controller is modeled after the first Shield’s gamepad, now known as Shield Portable, with minor adjustments.

The Nvidia Shield Tablet and wireless controller will be released on July 29, with the tablet available in two models: a 16GB Wi-Fi model for $300, and a 32GB Wi-Fi plus LTE model for $400. The Nvidia Shield Wireless Controller will be available for $60.

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