A few days ago, it came out via Bloomberg that Harmonix Music Systems is in development on a new game in their Rock Band franchise. Today, Harmonix has confirmed that Rock Band 4 will be coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One systems in 2015.
That’s right: we’re getting a new Rock Band game this year!
From the press release:
Rock Band 4 brings the critically-acclaimed franchise to a new generation of consoles, focusing on the features and gameplay that people love, and expanding the franchise in innovative ways that were informed by how fans play and what they want.
“With Rock Band 4, we’re doubling down on the energy and excitement of playing music live with your friends,” says Harmonix Chief Executive Officer Steve Janiak. “Focusing on the core experience that our fans have told us they love allows us to evolve established gameplay in meaningful ways that we can’t wait to share with everyone later this year.”
Helping Harmonix bring Rock Band 4 to a new generation and audience is Mad Catz, who will be making the new instruments:
“We couldn’t be happier to be working with Harmonix and help bring the band back together for the launch of Rock Band 4,” added Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “Harmonix possesses unrivalled passion and vision for music gaming and we can’t wait to introduce the next generation music platform to passionate gamers.”
Harmonix also announced that all downloaded tracks from previous Rock Band titles will be available to play on Rock Band 4:
“Since the beginning, we’ve called Rock Band a music platform. Players responded by downloading hundreds of their favorite tracks, and building a massive library of playable music,” says Rock Band 4 Product Manager Daniel Sussman. “It’s important for us to respect those purchases and enable our fans to bring that content over to the Rock Band platform on new generation consoles.”
No details on whether “Pro Mode” from Rock Band 3 will make a return or if instruments from Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will be made to work on the new generation of consoles for Rock Band 4. Harmonix promises more details about Rock Band 4 will be shared with fans this upcoming May. Interested fans can check Harmonix’s website and follow their updates on Twitter at @RockBand.
In the meantime, Harmonix has released a celebratory piece of free DLC in Frank Turner’s “I Still Believe” from his fourth album, Rock & Roll. This track, currently playable in Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, will be playable in Rock Band 4 when it releases later this year.
Rock Band is officially back.
