CES: No new Rock Band in '09

Harmonix cofounder says studio's primary focus will be creating Beatles project and downloadable content this year; 30 million songs downloaded.

In October, MTV Games and Harmonix scored a monumental win in the rhythm game arms race by announcing an exclusive collaboration with Apple Corps. to create a game based on the catalog of Liverpool supergroup The Beatles. Rather than a spin-off Rock Band along the lines of the AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack, Harmonix cofounder Alex Rigopulos emphasized that the Beatles game--due holiday 2009--would be an all-new music game "built from the ground up."

As it would turn out, Harmonix has opted to sideline any new installments in its Rock Band franchise for 2009 to focus on the Beatles project. Following online reports, MTV has confirmed for GameSpot that though Harmonix will continue its weekly Rock Band and Rock Band 2 downloadable-song releases, it does not plan to release any new installments in the series this year.

"Within the context of that question, Alex did make those comments, and that The Beatles game is the priority (but not our only project for 2009, as we will continue to release our weekly Rock Band [downloadable content])," said a MTV games representative. "It's important to note that he also stated to the audience that 'Rock Band 3' does not yet exist as an official project."

Rigopulos' comments came today by way of a Q&A session during the Billboard Digital Music Live panel at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The noted game designer also revealed during the panel that song downloads for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 had reached the 30 million unit marker, according to PaidContent.org. Rigopulos also addressed the issue of additional peripherals for Harmonix's rhythm games, saying that the addition of a keyboard remained a "maybe."

227 Comments

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Mar 24, 2009 1:48 pm PT

    DLC will keep me at bay just fine, but I'd pick up RB3 over Beatles any day. Yes they're a legendary band that changed the landscape of music, but the best part of the Rock Band series was the variety.

  • bad_boy_sam123

    Posted Jan 13, 2009 11:26 am PT

    Beatles game would be sweet. But it faces competition from GH: Metallica.

  • better-than-U

    Posted Jan 13, 2009 6:16 am PT

    dosent bother me aslong as new downloadable content keeps coming out;Even though I have bought a total of 8 songs in rock band 1.

  • RAVEZero

    Posted Jan 12, 2009 11:51 pm PT

    1st Step in Reducing Franchise Redundancy: Read Above News Post

  • necronaux

    Posted Jan 12, 2009 11:54 am PT

    ...an all-new music game "built from the ground up." ??? With all new instruments required??? ...of course.

  • thrashunreal

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 9:04 pm PT

    Kind of absurd.

  • Ovirew

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 7:01 pm PT

    Why in the world do you need to make more than one of these games in the first place? Make the first one right, and keep producing new, downloadable songs and features, and you really wouldn't need to make another one.

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 2:44 pm PT

    That's certainly a good idea for them to do you never want to milk something to point where you get a serious backlash from the consumers. Gotta give people time away so they can want more.

    Too bad a lot of other developers don't take that cue....

  • abeard424

    Posted Jan 11, 2009 1:04 pm PT

    if the Beatles game has drums, those will be the most boring drum parts in the world. I mean the Beatles are amazing, but Ringo Starr isn't the most complex drummer

  • Supreme4dmira1

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 6:16 pm PT

    Well, I guess I'll be saving $60 this year. Although I'll probably blow it on DLC anyways. Heres hoping we get some more Jane's Addiction soon.

    Edit: Any word if the Beatles project would include songs by bands other than the Beatles? Like how GH did the Aerosmith game?

  • joshboy101

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 10:22 am PT

    good choice. if they release a keybored and make all there songs compatible with it, people will keep buying even if theres no rockband 3

  • shady_825

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 8:12 am PT

    RB2 is currently one of my favorite games but I think it's a great idea to take a year off. The genre was starting to get oversaturated with rip-offs and GH games. This is the type of wise decision every developer should consider looking into sometimes, but one that none of them ever makes.

  • N-One

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 7:35 am PT

    Now GH, take a break. Both of ya'll need it. Then on 2010, GH would have caught up on DLC a bit, & both games would have time to perfect their next main game.

  • blackjack652

    Posted Jan 10, 2009 7:17 am PT

    Come on i thought that rock band was going to go somewhere with the sequel but......... guitar hero is now the best in my opinion and that mainly because they are making one for mettalica

  • carfreak15243

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 6:52 pm PT

    Anybody saying RB2 was a ripoff, think about it like this: you paid $60 for $80 worth of DLC, plus new features and fixes to complaints from the first game.

  • trw534 posted Jan 9, 2009 4:42 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    trw534

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 4:42 pm PT (hide)

    cool now guitar hero can take the lead

  • doctorwang12

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 2:31 pm PT

    i actually dont care for the beatles so i wont be picking it up

  • pium posted Jan 9, 2009 11:49 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    pium

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 11:49 am PT (hide)

    More space to GH

  • xMADxDOGx

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 10:04 am PT

    hmmm i'm wondering what could be new in rock band 3 ... a hiper guitar?

  • funnysplay

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 9:30 am PT

    I agree with thedecoy2124, im tired of droping cash down on ever
    new addition GH comes out with. Im just gonna stick with GHWT
    at least until sometime in 2010. That game is pretty awsome anyways.

  • Haklin

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 6:19 am PT

    Did they forget about releasing rockband 2 in australia? Hellloooo we are waiting

  • blindead05

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 3:34 am PT

    that sucks.

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Jan 9, 2009 12:56 am PT

    Good, RB needs a lot of work for the next game. Rock Band 2 was what Rock Band should have been and $60 for Rock Band 1.25 was way to much. Besides, why make a new game when they sucker people out of plenty of money weekly.Still enjoying Rock Band 2 and it should last until 2010.

  • funnymario

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:42 pm PT

    Great call.

  • Trmpt

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 9:58 pm PT

    This is completely fine with me.

  • st1sk8er18

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 6:45 pm PT

    I agree with their decision not to make half-ass rip offs of rock band every few months like some other music game does which will remain nameless. Take your time, make a good product, continue with weekly DLC service, and all is good.

  • GrimGravy

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 6:35 pm PT

    sure we will have like 3 new GH games this year though lol

  • MattHopeKids

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 6:13 pm PT

    Finally someone has took the advice of nearly every gamer. Take a break from music game yearly updates or you'll end up destroying something good. They aren't much better then DL content anyway. This'll mean that harmonix has more time to come up with a rock band with whole new additions rather than small upgrades. Now Activision should release one more Guitar Hero update to address the issues that there are with GH:WT then they should take a break too.

  • Gamer_4_Fun

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 5:26 pm PT

    This shows they are treating RB as a platform unlike Guitar Hero, so no one will be ripped off.

  • okassar

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 5:18 pm PT

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!Aw man,whatever,the next game better be good with this possible extra time,and the instrument better be durable,there would be no excuse if they're not this time around---not to mention music creation.

  • Coviehunter

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 5:10 pm PT

    lamplan, they're not talking about Apple Computers, they're talking about Apple Music, an English publishing company the Beatles bought and turned into their own company.

    I'm personally extremely excited about this, and am glad they're making this their main focus. After all, not only their reputation is at stake with the success of this game, but to a degree, The Beatles' too. I'm personally hoping for a sitar peripheral =P

  • trapguitar

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 4:45 pm PT

    Wow!! adding keyboards?!... that'd be amazing...I really hope it becomes something "real"..

  • BulletsnOctane

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 3:09 pm PT

    I'm not into these games because I actually do this for a living.
    But, I'm glad that someone has decided to stick to something that works and improve the game with new tracks on a consistent basis, rather than pushing another product that's really just an update (in most cases) that you have to fork out $60 annually for.


    Although, the Beatles project sounds intriguing - that's something I'll have to look into.


    Maybe we can all get together, jam, then disband because of "creative differences".

  • threedown

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 2:22 pm PT

    itll take me another year to finish all the challenges and tour mode in RB2 anyways, who needs a new version every year? new songs every week is fine with me... imm looking forward to the beatles one too

  • xXl_IMoRTaL_lXx posted Jan 8, 2009 1:41 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    xXl_IMoRTaL_lXx

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:41 pm PT (hide)

    that sucks O_O

  • rave_n2 posted Jan 8, 2009 1:38 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    rave_n2

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:38 pm PT (hide)

    The Beatles? I really don't care for their music, and I suspect it would be too easy for me (I play on Expert difficulty level). Harmonix is going to have to do something really special for me to consider buying this.

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:29 pm PT

    Huh, so this Beatles game is replacing a Rock Band sequel eh? Hopefully it turns out to be good (which it should) otherwise some RB fans will be disappointed that a potential sequel was pushed to the side for another project that didn't turn out will (which it shouldn't).

  • TheDecoy2124

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:19 pm PT

    I think it's good that their just sticking to DLC. Who needs to drop 190 on new instruments each year anyway

  • MonkeyWrench127

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    It's good to see that a developer doesn't see the need for yearly updates, looking forward to The Beatles Music game very much...

  • BongMonkey

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 1:13 pm PT

    The Beatles game is huge.. Harmonix has to create the best music game to date with it and I bet it will sell just as well as a RB3 would. Good decision in not rushing both out this year.

  • OmegaGear

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    I'm glad they're not rushing out another annual relase, but at the same time i was kind of hoping they were going to bring out RB3 with full support for the cymbols as separate paths to play.

  • lewis2112

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 12:42 pm PT

    "drivinggod2005"

    the rock band 2 instruments have been released in england in late november however retailers have been slow to adopt them due to GH4. As far as i know several uk online retailers stock the rock band wireless guitar most notably "choices.co.uk" but also on the hmv website it says they will take stock of the new instruments late jan

  • starfoxmcleoud

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 12:21 pm PT

    Hopefully they will improve on the UI and characters, add more customization, and make an optional drum track the size of Konami's "Drummania"/"Rock Revolution" that includes all three cymbals as standard to a drum kit.

  • 8smokes

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 11:57 am PT

    I guessd Harmonix is determined to make the best, most original, first Beatles game, ever.

  • Crash6

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 11:19 am PT

    Is a new Rockband with new equipment neccessary EVERY year????

  • ClassicPlayer

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 11:00 am PT

    Emphasis on the "yet" perhaps Rock Band 3 2010? Glad their taking time with it, in UK we only just got Rock Band, waiting for Rock Band 2 :/

  • theirgreat

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:51 am PT

    drivinggod2005 i am in the same boat as you. Except I have RB1 and wonder if you can play RB2 with the RB1 instruments. BTW you can get the extra symbols as an expansion for the RB1 drums on Feb 6. They are on amazon for £25.

  • Genexi2

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:50 am PT

    Will be nice once they go digital-distribution only as far as the software is concerned. Give out the program for free, and just charge for the songs while providing monthly game content-updates. Will beat having to buy a new game itself every year along with feeling screwed over with hardware revisions just because you adopted the game earlier.

  • avsfan7733

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:49 am PT

    good. the last thing we need is another formerly fun franchise with a major publisher to start pumpking out the same game yearly (cough tony hawk/call of duty/need for speed)

  • jadefury27

    Posted Jan 8, 2009 10:39 am PT

    this is good in a way. they will overload the market if they keep this pace up.
    some good dlc should hold over the diehard players for a while.

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