Nvidia Launches GameStream, Adds Shield Button-Mapping

Shield updated to Android 4.3.

If you're an owner of Nvidia's portable Shield gaming console, there's some fairly hefty announcements coming your way today. As IGN previously reported from an event in Montreal, GameStream--beaming compatible PC games from your GTX-ready rig to the Shield--has officially left beta. And on the Android side, the Shield's library of mobile games has expanded considerably.

After its launch, the Shield was only compatible with a particular list of Android games. But starting today, Nvidia has launched the Shield Gamepad Mapper, allowing nearly any Android title to be converted to Shield's controller inputs. Nvidia will release button mapping profiles on a weekly basis via over-the-air updates, but it's also possible to set your own configurations and share them with friends.
IGN's review of the Nvidia Shield did take some contention with the--then beta--streaming of PC games to the portable unit. After spending some time with the full release of GameStream, we did notice a few hiccups in regards to maintaining a connection with the PC. But in regards to latency, GameStream is performing surprisingly well. Today's update will also move the Shield to Android 4.3.
Also launched today is the Shield Console Mode, which allows you to hook up your Shield to an HDTV with an HDMI hookup and use a separate Bluetooth controller to play those compatible PC games on your television. According to Nvidia, the mode currently sends PC titles to the HDTV at 720p, but in an upcoming update, the company hopes to increase the resolution to 1080p with the help of a gigabit USB ethernet dongle.
Nvidia has also updated its GeForce Experience software to version 1.7, allowing for its ShadowPlay functionality which records PC gameplay and streams to Twitch at the press of a button.