NVIDIA SHIELD December update brings improved controls, 1080p@60FPS in console mode and more
The NVIDIA SHIELD is getting yet another huge upgrade that you should want to get your hands on ASAP. The biggest change you’ll find here is the ability to play in Console Mode at a full 1080p and 60 frames per second (whereas the October upgrade first brought 720p at 60FPS). The list of games compatible in each of these console modes is different, but NVIDIA has a nice list of games to start. They include the following:
- Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- Battlefield 4
- BioShock Infinite
- Borderlands 2
- Crysis 3
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
And NVIDIA promises more will be added on a weekly basis, so you can expect that list to expand quite fast. You can find a full list of both 720p and 1080p games that can be played at 60FPS in console mode here.
This upgrade also improves controller mapping, which allows you to map buttons to specific touch-screen gestures to make almost any game compatible with the device’s hardware buttons. This functionality has been extended to gyroscope emulation as well, so games which require motion-based gestures can now be played without an issue.
You’ll also find new fine-tuned analog stock controls that allows you to bind the left stick to body movement and the right stick to camera movement for FPS titles such as Mass Effect Infiltrator. Finally, NVIDIA has added the option to have the Android status bar automatically hidden — simply swipe down from the top to bring it up whenever you need it. You’ll want to head to Settings –> About SHIELD –> System Updates on your device and hit the “Check Now” button for the download.