Apple will release the iPhone/iPod equivalent of Xbox Live, known as the Game Center, next week as part of the latest upgrade to the portable devices' operating software.
The app allows players to play against friends or match up against random opponents in online games.
Game Center will also include leaderboards for players to track their progress and game achievements.
The Game Center is included with the iOS 4.1 update for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch.
Along with revealing the release of Game Center at an event in San Francisco, Apple unveiled a title from Epic Games (Gears of War) called "Project Sword," which was described as an action role-playing game.
The Game Center is the latest effort from Apple to compete in the portable video game space with devices such as the Nintendo DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable.
Readers, what do you think of Game Center? How does the device stack up to DS and PSP?
By Brett Molina
About Mike Snider
Mike Snider began covering the video game industry during the Super Nintendo-Sega Genesis clash in 1992. An original pinball wizard, he eventually was seduced by Robotron: 2084 and Tempest. These days he is a fan of action/shooters and lives out his Keith Moon fantasies playing a mean drum kit on music games. More about Mike.
About Brett Molina
Brett Molina has been writing about video games for USA TODAY since 2005. He is well-versed in Madden NFL, the fighting genre and first-person shooters. The first video game he played was Asteroids at a local arcade. He has been hooked ever since. More about Brett.
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