When 
you’re dealing with a multibillion dollar franchise, new releases tend to be well-telegraphed affairs.
Activision, though, surprised everyone Thursday by releasing an iOS version of Call of Duty without pomp or circumstance. And, in another surprise, it’s being made by a team led by a pair of Rockstar Games veterans.
Microsoft 
has finally spilled the Xbox One’s last big secret.
The company announced Wednesday that it would begin selling its next-generation console on Friday, November 22 in 13 territories, setting the stage for the holiday season’s biggest video game battle in seven years.
Are 
you ready for some Xbox?
Microsoft has announced a new partnership with the NFL, as well as an expanded one with current partner ESPN, that it hopes will turn the upcoming Xbox One console into a one stop shop for football fans.
Just 
two years ago, 3D was being touted as the Next Big Thing in gaming
Sony released an affordable 3D monitor for the PlayStation 3 to showcase the system’s potential. Nintendo proudly trotted out the 3DS. First-party developers added in the necessary coding to make their games shine on the then-hot technology.
Remember 
the ugly launch of SimCity back in March? ‘Disastrous’ would be a kind way to describe it. You’d think EA would have learned a few lessons there.
Not so much, it turns out.
You 
wouldn’t expect a man who calls himself ‘Lord British’ to live somewhere mundane — and game design guru Richard Garriott’s homes certainly defy that description.
His Austin castle — yes, castle — is a thing of legend, complete with secret passages, a waterfall, a carousel and an observatory. But it turns out his New York pad is just as cool.
Monopoly 
fans, make room for your new house pet.
Nearly seven months after winning a worldwide vote, the cat token is finally making its debut in the classic board game. Hasbro has officially begun rolling out the new gamepiece, which will permanently replace the iron token.
Faced 
with miserable sales and looming competition, Nintendo has finally lowered the price of its next-generation console.
Effective September 20, the Wii U Deluxe Set will see its retail price drop $50 to $299.99. Nintendo also plans to include The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD with the system in a limited edition bundle.
EA’s 
Madden franchise has been a fixture in the gaming world for over two decades, boasting a fan base and lifetime sales that any publisher would envy.
The 25th anniversary edition of the flagship sports title hits shelves today, and while the franchise faithful have likely once again come down with a case of the Madden flu to spend time with the game, critics have had a bit more time to dissect it.
Still 
need proof that eSports are the Next Big Thing? League of Legends has just made a pretty convincing argument.
The online game’s October world championships sold out LA’s Staples Center — the home of the Lakers, Clippers and Kings — in roughly one hour this weekend.
Chris Morris: Journalist 