Grab Your Plastic Guitars! Rock Band 4 is Coming

Posted by RiffYou On March 05, 2015 0 Comment

Stretch your forearms and begin your finger strengthening, because the Rock Band video game franchise is returning with its fourth edition. Harmonix, the game’s developer, has confirmed the news and will provide more details at the E3 Expo in June.

This will be the first new Rock Band game since 2010.

What we know now is that Harmonix is creating the game independently, but is working with Sony and Microsoft to ensure that the instruments purchased for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Rock Band will be compatible with the Playstation 4 and Xbox One editions of the game.

As for the music, Harmonix says that gamers will have access to more than 2,000 downloadable songs through the Rock Band music store. You can view the list right here.

Additionally, says Harmonix, “players can re-download any previously purchased DLC from their Rock Band DLC libraries at no additional cost.”

“There are a number of areas that we’re focusing on in terms of innovation, one of which is sort of a player to player dynamic and creating a little bit more awareness of what other players in your band are doing,” explained Rock Band 4 Project Manager Daniel Sussmen in an interview with Paste. “You know, there’s this reality when you’re playing – and you’re playing on expert – you’re trying really hard not to break your streak, you’re sort of focused exclusively on what it is you’re doing. And we’re looking at ways to sort of open up your peripheral vision a little bit, and just like being in a real band, there’s value to paying attention to what other folks in the band are doing… Another area is sort of player expression and trying to figure out how to allow a player to put their mark on the song.”

Here’s a Rock Band 4 trailer featuring members of the Harmonix team:

-Adam Grant