Harmonix will try to bring back the once massive music game genre with the release of Rock Band 4. The game will be out for the Xbox One, among other platforms, sometime in 2015.
The Boston-based development team helped to launch the music game craze with the release of the original Guitar Hero, which included a guitar-shaped controller. The Guitar Hero series was later acquired by Activision but Harmonix moved on with their own Rock Band series, which added even more controllers such as a drum kit and a microphone.
However, the music game fad burned out a few years ago and there have not been any major releases for either the Guitar Hero or Rock Band franchises in some time. In a blog post, Harmonix offers up the first details on Rock Band 4:
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 catalog music – and new tracks – to be added regularly after launch.
Game controller and accessory maker Mad Catz will make the controllers for Rock Band 4 and will sell two bundles. One will include the game and Wireless Fender Stratocaster Guitar Controller, while the other will contain the game, the guitar controller, the Wireless Drum Kit and a microphone! Pricing for these bundles has yet to be announced.