Nvidia is launching its Shield TV set-top box in the Chinese market. And the gaming-focused device will come with remastered versions of Nintendo titles from the earlier Wii and GameCube platforms.
Some of the Nintendo titles that will be available for the first time in China (at least legally) are New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Punch-Out!. They will be remastered in 1080p resolution and available on the Nvidia Shield in China today.
Since China doesn’t allow Google services, Nvidia’s machine will have streaming, store, and smart assistant features that come from local Chinese partners.
Nvidia and Nintendo are partners on the Switch, which uses Nvidia’s technology. And now they are extending that partnership. Another Nintendo title coming soon for the Shield TV is Super Mario Galaxy. The Shield has been customized for the Chinese market through partnerships with Baidu’s DuerOS conversational AI system and entertainment options from iQIYI.
Nvidia said the Shield TV will sell for 1,499 RMB, or $227 in U.S. currency. Nvidia has been selling versions of the Shield TV set-top box for a couple of years, but it hasn’t said how many units have sold to date. One of the features is the ability to stream high-end games to the set-top box.