The market for RB4 was gone ages ago. It was just a fad for a second that might re surge with VR.

I didn't read every comment but has anyone mentioned that online multiplayer was NOT included in RB4? RB was my favorite series from last gen for that very reason and the exclusion of online multiplayer still blows my mind. It was enough for me to pass it up when it otherwise would have been a day one purchase. I know someone else mentioned practice mode but it seems like there were a bunch of other features that Harmonix skipped on this time.

There was a hardcore following that loved online multiplayer and it feels like they got shafted. I think they plan to add it later this year but it may be too late.

D-Did you just quote yourself?? O_O

there actually IS a market for these sort of games still. It is FUN for a LOT of people to play mini games related to jamming on a guitar or instrument of some sort. great for parties and gaming with friends at the same house, same as something like karaeoke (and that hasn't went out of style in the last 50 years).

the real problem is this: lack of innovation AND cost. A lot of people don't want to pay 100$ for a periphial (guitar/ mic/drums/etc.) to play a game. now maybeeee they woul be willing to if there was a reason to, but the reality is that the newer Guitar Hero AND Rock Band games are just too similar to before. nothing revolutionary or different.

you can't sell the same wheel 10 years later (practically) for a kind of pricey amount and expectc people to jump on board. hell, who knows how many people still have their old Guitar Hero / Rockband sets. probably a lot of them are sitting in people's garages. My point is that the idea is still popular I think, its just unless its updated people don't have a reason to care.

It also doesn't help something like Rockband's case that it DOES have to compete with the same exact thing existing in arcades everywhere (and, yes, arcades are still somewhat alive, at least in busy city areas and touristy spots) as well as has to compete with traditional things like restauraunts and coffee shops having karaoke nights. I'm putting way too much thought into this but the idea is in the end if you don't update your product no one will care. And slight game mode changes or adding songs is not enough

Guitar Hero actually did try something drastically different.  The new guitar has two rows of three buttons instead of the traditional one row of five.

And this sold better than Guitar Hero Live at launch (excluding bundles) according to NPD.

I just want to point out that Mad Catz is not the publisher of Rock Band, but they have a deal for the Instruments. Which puts them in a even bigger disatavantage, because they have to try and sell all their worthless stock before their contract runs out or they won't be allowed to sell them any more.

Not true, first game sold over 7 million units. Those are sales many IPs would love to have.

Anywho, shame they made so much hardware. Sounds like they didn't get the memo the genre has become niche.

It struck me as a really odd and potentially expensive franchise resurrection.

As much as I enjoyed those peripheral based rhythm games in 2008, they eventually hit the point where they ran out of runway but more importantly, they seemed to have fallen out of favor before the 8th gen even started.

I wrote it off to Harmonix knowing something I didn't, but maybe not.

It does seem odd as I remember Rock Band being a lot of fun. Not sure what people who likely didn't have much experience with it before would be totally uninterested now.

It was always a bit of an investment, but that didn't stop Guitar hero/rock band back in even worse economic times. I wonder what college kids in the dorms are playing today?