Well it’s been floating around as a rumour for quite a while, but Harmonix have finally announced that Rockband will be making its 8th gen debut this year with Rockband 4!
I always loved the rhythm action genre, and although all titles were awesome, I had a bit of a preference for Rockband over the alternatives (mainly due to the playlists). I have to agree with the general attitude, however, that the market reached saturation point a few years ago and the plastic instruments needed a bit of a rest.
After a long enough break to for us all to get back into our groove, and allow for a tonne of new songs to be included, we will be slaying slayer Killing in the name of Rage Against the Machine and poisoning Alice Cooper later this year.
In their own inimitable style Harmonix announced it like this:
quote:
For years you have been asking us the same question: “When will Rock Band return?” For years you have been unified in solidarity with one single demand: “Give us a new Rock Band!” Well, today, my friends, is your day.“Give us a new Rock Band!”
Okay. You win. We’ll do it.“When will Rock Band return?”
Oh I dunno, HOW ABOUT THIS YEAR? 2015!That’s right. Later this year, Rock Band 4 comes to Xbox One (and PS4), and it will support all your previously purchased downloadable content (aka YOUR MUSIC) as we release them on next gen consoles!
Beyond the general announcement up there, details are (unsurprisingly) still quite scant. However, we are assured that this game will have an insane amount of content available made up of new material and a back catalogue from previous games. What Harmonix have made clear is that all your music purchased from previous titles will be at your disposal in the new title.
In fact, in their own words:
In addition to a killer on-disc soundtrack, Rock Band 4 will support over 2000 tracks released since the 2007 launch of the original Rock Band, accounting for more than 500 of rock music’s most legendary artists.
Players who’ve purchased or downloaded playable tracks on last-generation consoles will be able to download and play those tracks on their new platforms at no additional charge. Hundreds of tracks will be available at launch, with more back catalogue music – and new tracks – to be added regularly after launch.”
To celebrate the announcement of Rock Band 4, they are also giving a free downloadable track of “I Still Believe,” available now free of charge on Xbox 360 ( and PS3) for in Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
Harmonix have also announced that (shockingly) the latest iteration in the series will bring yet another set of peripherals (via Mad Katz). Yep, all new hardware will launch with the game. In fairness to them, the last gen ones wouldn’t be compatible with current gen systems due to the change in proprietary connection systems.
No specifics on what, but guitars, microphone and drums are pretty much a certainty. Whether keyboards make another appearance and/or any new instruments are announced is yet to be seen….
There was a load more blurb about focussing on core experiences and giving the fans what they want. but to be honest you either love playing rock songs on plastic instruments (like me) or you don’t. Either way, its going to be more of that, and you can decide if that’s a good or a bad thing.
Anyway, if you want more info, watch the video below to meet the team and hear about why Harmonix is bringing Rock Band back now.
^HooksaN (@HooksaN)
Rock Band 4 will be available later this year. For more information, head over to Harmonix website and follow @RockBand on Twitter for updates.
David Hook (HooksaN) contributed 26 articles to ICXM between 2014–2015, covering game reviews, and Xbox news with a focus on hands-on impressions and verified-source reporting. Their bylines on the site span the Xbox One’s first full year of post-launch coverage, including the early days of Backwards Compatibility and Windows 10 gaming. They post on X as @Hooksan.