According to a report from consumer site Crispy Gamer, Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopulous has confirmed that 2009 will not see a new numbered installment in the Rock Band franchise.

This decision was made as the Boston-based developer concentrates on its previously-announced Beatles game while taking time to innovate for Rock Band 3.

Rigopulous was speaking as part of a Billboard "Digital Music Live" event during part of the CES show currently taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As quoted by Crispy Gamer, Rigopulous said, "We’ve actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year. [This is] partly because the annual cycle places limits on the choices you can make as a developer. We’re trying to take a long term view."

This explains the company's choice to hold back on releasing Rock Band 3 this year. He noted that while EA would be happy with a new installment for 2009, "...they know how important this series is and they’re willing to give it the time it needs."

Rigopulous refused to give a definitive yes or no answer on whether Rock Band 3 will support a keyboard controller, settling on a "maybe."

The forthcoming Beatles game currently under development at Harmonix (and to be published by Rock Band publisher MTV Games in partnership with Electronic Arts) has no announced release date and is not part of the Rock Band series.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21779

Good, i'm glad they're taking the year off for a traditional Rock Band game, it's not a sport game that warrants an annual release

seems not many people care lol

I don't care much about when RB3 releases, the only think I care from Harmonix is the Beatles game, I'll need to buy a guitar for it for sure (if it comes out for PS2, that is). Glad to see it's coming out this year

“Alex (Harmonix CEO) was responding to a question about potential future iterations of ‘Rock Band‘ and the possibility of additional peripherals. Within the context of that question, Alex did comment that the Beatles game is the priority for MTV Games and Harmonix (but not the only project for 09 i.e. We will continue to release our weekly ‘Rock Band’ DLC, etc. etc. etc.). However, it’s important to note that he also stated to the audience that ‘Rock Band 3′ does not yet even exist as an official project.” - MTV statement

Nobody cares about RB :P

Thats fine, all they need to do then is keep up with the weekly content and I'll be happy. And I dont know about a keyboard, but it sounds like it will introduce a whole generation of music that is forgotten on these music/rhythm type games. The glorious 80s!!!!!!

At this point I don't think there should be another version of RockBand or Guitar Hero unless they have something truly innovative to add.

Just keep the songs coming the the current versions could sell for years.

Keyboards? might be going a bit far for me. If they add that, expect a Flock of Seagulls special edition rock band.