Nvidia's Decade-Long Commitment to Shield TV
It's been ten years since Nvidia released the first Shield Android TV in 2015. The device, which was initially met with skepticism by critics and consumers alike, has defied expectations and remains one of the most well-supported Android devices on the market.
Andrew Bell, senior VP of hardware engineering at Nvidia, credits the company's passion for product support as a key factor in the Shield TV's longevity. "We were all frustrated as buyers of phones and tablets that you buy a device, you get one or two updates, and that's it!" he says. "Early on when we were building Shield TV, we decided we were going to make it for a long time." Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO at the time, famously stated, "For as long as we shall live."
Throughout its ten-year lifespan, the Shield TV has received numerous updates, with the latest being Patch 9.2 in February 2025. This update added security enhancements and fixed various bugs, including a notorious issue with DRM-protected 4K content.
Despite not receiving any major hardware upgrades since 2019, the sales volume of the Shield TV has remained consistent, with Nvidia still manufacturing the device due to its loyal customer base. Bell attributes this success to his team's unwavering commitment to supporting the product and addressing customer concerns.
As for future plans, Bell says that Nvidia is always experimenting with new concepts in its labs and will continue to play around with different ideas. While there are no concrete plans to release a new Shield TV, Bell hints at the possibility of updates that would bring the device up to speed with newer video technologies like VP9 Profile 2 hardware decoding and HDR 10+ support.
One long-standing criticism of the Shield TV is its giant Netflix button on the remote, which is required by Netflix's certification program. Bell acknowledges this quirk but notes that Nvidia doesn't receive any money from Netflix for it. He leaves open the possibility of revising this feature in a future refresh.
As Nvidia looks to the future, it's clear that the company's commitment to its Shield TV platform will continue. With no signs of slowing down, this Android device has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and well-supported options on the market – a testament to Nvidia's dedication to delivering high-quality products that cater to specific needs.
It's been ten years since Nvidia released the first Shield Android TV in 2015. The device, which was initially met with skepticism by critics and consumers alike, has defied expectations and remains one of the most well-supported Android devices on the market.
Andrew Bell, senior VP of hardware engineering at Nvidia, credits the company's passion for product support as a key factor in the Shield TV's longevity. "We were all frustrated as buyers of phones and tablets that you buy a device, you get one or two updates, and that's it!" he says. "Early on when we were building Shield TV, we decided we were going to make it for a long time." Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO at the time, famously stated, "For as long as we shall live."
Throughout its ten-year lifespan, the Shield TV has received numerous updates, with the latest being Patch 9.2 in February 2025. This update added security enhancements and fixed various bugs, including a notorious issue with DRM-protected 4K content.
Despite not receiving any major hardware upgrades since 2019, the sales volume of the Shield TV has remained consistent, with Nvidia still manufacturing the device due to its loyal customer base. Bell attributes this success to his team's unwavering commitment to supporting the product and addressing customer concerns.
As for future plans, Bell says that Nvidia is always experimenting with new concepts in its labs and will continue to play around with different ideas. While there are no concrete plans to release a new Shield TV, Bell hints at the possibility of updates that would bring the device up to speed with newer video technologies like VP9 Profile 2 hardware decoding and HDR 10+ support.
One long-standing criticism of the Shield TV is its giant Netflix button on the remote, which is required by Netflix's certification program. Bell acknowledges this quirk but notes that Nvidia doesn't receive any money from Netflix for it. He leaves open the possibility of revising this feature in a future refresh.
As Nvidia looks to the future, it's clear that the company's commitment to its Shield TV platform will continue. With no signs of slowing down, this Android device has proven itself to be one of the most reliable and well-supported options on the market – a testament to Nvidia's dedication to delivering high-quality products that cater to specific needs.
. But Nvidia's Shield TV defies all odds! I'm not surprised though, they've always been pretty passionate about supporting their products and listening to customer feedback.
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. Maybe they'll rethink it in a future refresh?
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I mean, 10 years is a pretty long time for any product to stay relevant, but Nvidia's Shield TV has been surprisingly resilient. I guess it just goes to show that when you've got a loyal customer base and a team that's all about supporting the product, things can work out in the end 
. It's also interesting to see how Nvidia is still experimenting with new ideas and isn't afraid to revise features if they're not working out. That giant Netflix button on the remote might be annoying for some people, but I don't think it's a deal-breaker. And hey, at least Nvidia doesn't get paid off by Netflix for that feature, so that's a win! 
! 10 years is a crazy decade, especially considering some people already forget what life was like before smartphones 
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. Can you imagine how sick it would be to play 4K games on Shield TV? 
My only wish is that Nvidia would make a new remote with a smaller Netflix button lol, but I guess that's just my personal preference 
. i'm curious to see if they'll actually release some new hardware or just stick with the software updates 
. one thing's for sure, shield tv has become a part of gaming history 
. It just goes to show that they're really passionate about what they do and care about their customers 
. I'm curious to see what they come up with next, maybe some new tech like VP9 Profile 2 hardware decoding and HDR 10+ support 
. It's clear they really care about their customers and want to make sure everyone gets the best experience out of their device 
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