Nvidia unveiling next-gen GPU June 21

Nvidia has revealed that it will announce its next-generation graphics processing unit on June 21 at a launch event in San Francisco. An invitation sent to Nvidia partners, analysts, and members of the press promises invitees an "evening of full-throttle entertainment" filled with "revolutionary technologies, hot 3D content, and exciting gaming action as we unveil our next-generation GPU."

Festivities will open with cocktails and a case-mod contest before the start of the scheduled press conference with live product demonstrations. The evening will conclude with a reception, including hands-on product demonstrations and a Battlefield 2 LAN party. If Nvidia's next-gen GPU launch plans sound familiar, it might be because Nvidia announced its current-generation GeForce 6 series in a similar but more public fashion at a GeForce LAN party in San Francisco last year.

Nvidia has indicated in the past that its next-generation desktop GPU will be similar to the GPU designed for the Sony PlayStation 3.