Nvidia Shield gets price drop, release date

The upcoming portable gaming device Nvidia Shield will launch June 27 for $300, the company announced today. Previously, the portable was slated to be released for $350.

"We've heard from thousands of gamers that if the price was $299, we'd have a home run," project manager Jason Paul said in a statement. "So we're changing the price of Shield to $299."

Those who already preordered an Nvidia Shield will be charged the new, lower price when the product ships.

"We want to get Shield into the hands of as many gamers as possible," Paul added.

It will be available through Nvidia's website, as well as at Newegg, GameStop, Micro Center, and Canada Computers.

By comparison, the Nintendo 3DS sells for $200, while the PlayStation Vita begins at $250.

The Nvidia Shield gives gamers access to an array of gaming avenues, including Nvidia TegraZone, Google Play, and Steam. The system runs on the Tegra 4 processor and boasts 16GB of memory, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, a mini-HDMI output, a microSD storage slot, and a headphone jack.

The device also features a five-inch, 720p multi-touch display. For more on the Nvidia Shield, check out GameSpot's preview of the device from the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year.