Nvidia Shield is becoming the Netflix and Hulu of the gaming world

Nvidia Shield is a relatively new Android-based gaming platform that’s competing with heavyweights like Xbox One, Sony PS4 and Nintendo.

Some serious gamers cast doubt on Shield succeeding as anything more than a mobile gaming platform.

I disagree. And here’s why:  Nvidia is modeling ‘Netflix’ by bringing more PC games to the platform through its Nvidia Now streaming service.

The games run on super powerful Nvidia servers and then get streamed to Nvidia Shield devices where users can use controllers to play the games, but the game is running remotely. This allows Nvidia to bring more PC games to the console. The company claims that games get a click-to-play time of less than 30 seconds which is an impressive feat. However, that also means that users should have very good internet access.

“Millennial Gamers are increasingly turning to game-streaming services to instantly play their games and NVIDIA GeForce NOW is the early performance leader,” said Patrick Moorhead, president and principal analyst, Moor Insights & Strategy.

Nvidia is working hard to increase the number of PC games available for Nvidia Now and just partnered with two big publishers: SEGA and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

As a result of this new partnership, nine more PC games comes to Nvidia Shield, including four games from the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II and Sonic CD. In addition to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Alpha Protocol. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will be bringing three games: LEGO Jurassic World, Mad Max and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Nvidia Shield was released last year and it’s quite young compared to established players, but considering Nvidia’s influence in the gaming industry, I see this platform emerging as a very interesting Linux/Android based gaming platform.