Nvidia Shield to Launch on July 31, Product Issues Resolved

The Nvidia Shield, an Android-based portable gaming console, was supposed to launch in June, however late last month, the company issued a statement saying that there was a mechanical issue (which has now be resolved) found during device testing, so instead of shipping a possibly faulty device, Nvidia pushed back the launch date to an unspecified day.  Well, the wait is now almost over.  Nvidia just announced that they will be launching the Shield on July 31, 2013.

Last month, we made the difficult decision to delay the launch of SHIELD due to a mechanical issue we found in our rigorous testing process. Since then we have been working non-stop to put SHIELD through its paces and ensure it meets the highest quality control standards in the industry.

The device retails for $299 and can be tested at select in-store locations at GameStop, Microcenter, and Canada Computers locations in the U.S. and Canada.  However, with a $299 price tag for a dedicated Android gaming device it could be a tough sell.  The Nvidia Shield can also be used to stream and play PC games via the Steam gaming platform but essentially, the standalone device is mainly meant to provide hardware controls and better sound quality to Android games.

Personally, I think in order for the Shield to be a success, Nvidia needs to get game developers onboard to create games that can benefit from being played on Shield.  This is the same approach OUYA is taking with its Android-based gaming console, and one I think is a good idea.  Both companies need games that can take advantage of the these specific devices.

Do you want a Shield? Let us know in the comments!