For the first time ever, Nintendo is bringing major Mario and Zelda games to an Android device

• Through a licensing deal with Nvidia, Nintendo is bringing major Wii and GameCube games to Android.
• The games are only available through the Nvidia Shield console, and will be available "soon."
• It's not clear if the games will be available on Android or iPhone in other parts of the world.

Major entries in the "Super Mario" and "Legend of Zelda" franchises are heading to Android for the first time ever.

In a surprising move, Japanese gaming powerhouse Nintendo is licensing major Wii and GameCube games to chip manufacturer Nvidia - but these games aren't going to Android smartphones, but rather the Android-powered Nvidia Shield set-top box, and they'll only be available in China.

The only GameCube title announced thus far is "Super Mario Galaxy." A handful of Wii games were announced, including "Punch-out!!", "New Super Mario Bros." and "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess." More games are said to be "coming soon."

The games are download only, of course - the Nvidia Shield console is similar to a Roku or an Apple TV, in that it's a small box unable to read physical media. Instead, you download or stream games, media, and music to the box through the internet. 

In the case of the Shield, which is already available elsewhere in the world, Nvidia gave it more a gaming bent. There's an official gamepad, for instance, in addition to the standard remote control. You can also stream games to the console from your PC - using Nvidia's software, of course.

When the Shield arrives in China, Wii games will cost about $10 (RMB 68). It's not clear how much GameCube games will cost. The console itself is about $225 (RMB 1499).

The news isn't just a big deal for Nintendo fans in China, but for Nintendo itself: Game companies have a notoriously fraught relationship with the Chinese market. Many game consoles haven't been allowed for official sale and distribution in China due to governmental restrictions (it's complicated).

Nintendo, an over 100-year-old Japanese game company, has worked around China's restrictions in the past by partnering with a Chinese company named iQue. Similarly, Nintendo is partnering here with both Nvidia and Chinese streaming video platform Iqiyi to release its games in China - a smart move that enables Nintendo to push into one of the world's largest gaming markets.

Check out a video of the Shield running Nintendo games right here:

NOW WATCH: The real reason Snapchat photos taken on Android phones look terrible