Nvidia Shield: company launches set-top box games console, running on Android

New console will be 4K, unlike PS4 and Xbox One, and able to stream games

(Nvidia)

Nvidia, best known for making computer graphics cards, has launched a new games console that will allow users to play apps downloading from the Android store.

The Shield, which looks and functions a little like a set top box, will be able to stream 4K video and TV content, as well as providing a place for people to play Android games on their TV.

The system runs on Android TV, making it able to play games like Crysis 3, which Nvidia has porter onto the Android operating system. It will also be able to stream games through Grid, a high-quality games service set to launch in May.

All games will have to be downloaded to the console.

The Shield is a small box, like an Apple TV or satellite receiver, plus a controller that looks a little like an Xbox’s. The box is shiny and matte black, with a green glow that emerges from inside of it.

It will be launched in America in May, and come to Europe later in the year. It was unveiled at an event in San Francisco last night.

It is powered by Nvidia’s Tegra X1, which the company claims gives it twice the power of an Xbox 360 with an eighth of the power consumption.