Harmonix, EA & MTV to start up Rock Band

360 News | Guitars, drum kit, and microphone included for all Xbox 360 and PS3 groupies.

Leaving the selfish one man show dreams of Guitar Hero behind, Harmonix has finally embraced collaborative group love and announced the existence of Rock Band - a four player musical extravaganza for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

To be wallet-witheringly released with a lead guitar, a bass guitar, a drum kit, and even a microphone for the wannabe Bonos out there, Rock Band aims to take the Guitar Hero formula to the next level - with Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos promising a wider range of music, "from metal to classic rock to Southern rock to everything in-between."

Best of all, while the game is suitably playable offline in the same room with three other buddies, it goes one step further and also promises online multiplayer - news that can only make the would-be bedroom rock star tear their furniture apart with joy at the thought of rocking with international band members and 'touring' across the globe.

Publishing by EA and financial support from MTV guarantees that big name licensed tracks will outnumber the covers in the track lists available, both in the standalone game and purchasable online - with support from EMI, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Enterprises, Hollywood Records, and Rhino Entertainment already confirmed.

Finally, according to Kotaku, a few bands tentatively confirmed to be providing music for Rock Band are Nirvana, Joan Jett, The Allman Brothers Band, Kansas, and Wolfmother.

Indeed, in what could only be described as sales charts across the world imploding from both SingStar and Guitar Hero aficionados, Rock Band, and its still unknown price point, will be touring stores everywhere later this year.

In the meantime, the impatient Lemmys and Pages out there can bide their time with the game's recently unveiled website.

Related Rock Band Content

Xbox Live Deal of the Week - 08/12/09
08 Dec, 2009 Rock it out.

Flight of the Conchords coming to Rock Band?
23 Sep, 2009 Maybe.

Foo Fighters launch another dose of Rock Band DLC
15 Aug, 2009 Play it loud, ok?

16 Comments

Cerebral

5 years ago

An inevitable, yet great idea. Bound to sell by the truckloads on the two major platforms.

ppjim3

5 years ago

This game will cost an absolute fortune. If one guitar with Guitar Hero costs ~150 bucks, throw in 3 more instruments and you could be looking at 300 dollars! Yikes!

NismoR34

5 years ago

But, if it's anything like Guitar Hero has been then it will be fully worth the price of admission.

Not that I'd know since I still haven't had the pleasure of experiencing Guitar Hero yet, but irrelevant information right?

Timmaaah

5 years ago

this is going to be so cool. even if it does cost more it will be worth it.

it's good to see that they know what people want as i suggested this would be thier next step afew months ago in one of the other articles.

ittekimasu

5 years ago

i'm going to look forward to this especially the online play! i'll probably just buy one instrument and also i'll need to get the japanese versios when they release their own XD~

just the equipment is compatible

arbok

5 years ago

OMG - this is FREAKING amazing.

Yep its going to cost a fortune - my buddies don't buy anything, but im sure for people who have friends that are into gaming, they will each buy their own instrument and bring it around.

This sounds like co-op gaming at its best

Kaboth

5 years ago

So perhaps that's what the extra port on Guitar Hero's new guitar is for, to add additional instruments with a variety of expansion packs giving the consumer the choice of what instruments to buy and how much to spend rather than one huge wallop like with Rock Band.

Qbert

5 years ago

Great idea, good to see that it can work online or just in the same room with your mates. I wonder if this, due to the inclusion of the microphone, will impact in Singstar's sales?

Vervain

5 years ago

I can't wait until this comes out! Just last night my little brother was asking if there was such a thing as 'Drum' Hero ant then they announce this. Awesome.

ObsoletE

5 years ago

i can't wait for Groupie Hero.

i want to be able to throw my panties on stage with the best of them.

EvilHayama

5 years ago

I hope all my existing guitars and microphones will work with this... And my flying pigs too -_-

tootie_kicks

5 years ago

I envisage (possibly making up words here!) that the game will come with microphones, ala Singstar, and the other stuff will be optional extras (kinda like Eyetoy in Singstar but so much cooler) depending on which instrument you want to play.

ittekimasu

5 years ago

i think that all the instruments will be bluetooth or usb, you should be albe to use the singstar mic's from the ps2 set.

goodbye

5 years ago

With all four instruments being played at once, how is all that information gonna fit on the screen without being confusing and/or ugly? I'm really interested in this and can't wait to learn more about it. Also I read on ign that GH II guitars will work with Rock Band on the 360 however unless an adapter is released, PS3 owners will need a whole new axe.

Also Gamestop have prices listed for the Rock Band peripherals and game itself. These are probably not final though as Harmonix said they aren't ready to discuss price/packaging yet.