Nvidia Shield delayed to July due to 'mechanical issue'

Nvidia is pushing back the release of its Android-powered gaming device, the Nvidia Shield, to July. The handheld was scheduled to be released this Thursday, June 27, but "final quality-assurance testing has just turned up a mechanical issue" that Nvidia says has forced the company to delay the product.

On its blog, Nvidia says it won't release the Shield until it's "fully up to the exacting standards" the hardware manufacturer is known for. Nvidia product manager Jason Paul says the mechanical issue relates to a third-party component, and that Nvidia is working with its suppliers to address the problem.

"We apologize to those who have pre-ordered Shields and to all those who are waiting for them to go on sale," Paul writes. "But we want every Shield to be just right."

Nvidia has not announced a more specific release date.

The Shield was announced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, where Polygon went hands-on with the hardware. The handheld gaming device, which plays Android games and can stream PC software to a TV, is powered by Nvidia's Tegra 4 chipset and features a 5 inch, 720p multitouch display.

Last week, Nvidia announced a June 27 release date and a $299 retail price for the Shield, lower than its previously announced price of $349 .