A prominent video game outlet are reporting that the well-loved franchise is getting re-tuned and re-done, with sources claiming that Activision plans to announce it at E3, with a view to releasing it later this year on Xbox One and PS4.
Activision, of Call of Duty and Tony Hawk fame, had put the Guitar Hero franchise (as well as the aforementioned Tony Hawk) on gaming hiatus since 2011, after the semi-successful Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock was released in 2010. What was once a $2 Billion juggernaut of shredding riffs and power ballads has fallen from grace (song-worthy material right!?)
Neversoft and RedOctane, the previous developers of Guitar Hero, are no longer in business. So it will be interesting to see who does end up developing the new Guitar Hero – but the reported aim is for it to be “more realistic” in its visual effects. Better looking artists, crowds and updated visuals would highlight efforts to make it appear less cartoonish. Naturally, rumours indicate that new peripherals may be in the works as well.
Activision have since responded to the rumours offering the canned response that they don’t comment on speculation, before emphasising that they’d bring Guitar Hero back with the ‘right innovations’.
More as we get it.
^Ben (@Benwatson90)
Ben was a regular ICXM contributor between 2014–2017, publishing 45 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative.