A few months ago NVIDIA divulged that it would be launching its SHIELD Android TV, a gaming-centric set-top box which converts the Android platform into a gaming console, in May.
True to its promise, NVIDIA has now made the SHIELD Android TV available for purchase from Thursday, May 28. But that's not the only good news for those waiting eagerly for the device to hit the shelves. The company has also announced that come July 1, "Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel" will be available for users of the NVIDIA SHIELD devices.
That's right! The popular first-person shooter which follows the journey of Handsome Jack as he leads a group of four in an attempt to talk over the Helios space station will be available for SHIELD users.
For those wondering if the game will be free or chargeable - if your purchase the SHIELD Android TV Pro i.e. the 500GB variant which costs $299.99, you will get the game worth $29.99 free. However, those who do not opt for this variant may have to shell out a nominal fee which is yet to be announced.
NVIDIA calls the device the first Android TV console and the powerful SHIELD Android TV packs in a Tegra X1 processor, 3GB of RAM and boasts 256-core GPU. The svelte device also has two USB 3.0 ports, two HDMI ports, as well as an Ethernet port. The SHIELD Android TV can support 4K playback as well (up to 60 frames per second) and its standout feature is the "Grid" service NVIDIA will offer.
For those wondering what the Grid is - it is being touted as the "Netflix of gaming" and will basically have several thousand computers hosting games that are streamed to a user's SHIELD Android TV. The service will enable users to play major games on the device and may well become a hit with hardcore gamers.
While NVIDIA has already announced the arrival of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel for the SHIELD, some other popular titles such as Tales from the Borderlands HD, Borderlands 2, Game of Thrones HD, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, etc. are also expected to hit the device this summer.
The NVIDIA Shield Android TV starts at $199 and can be purchased online from shield.nvidia.com.
