Kotick: DJ Hero coming in 2009

Activision Blizzard CEO says unannounced, turntable-equipped rhythm game will spin to retail shelves later this year.

To be clear, DJ Hero isn't an officially announced game. Be that as it may, its confirmation is all but a formality at this point, thanks largely to outside-the-channels verification first by Guitar Hero World Tour project director Brian Bright, and now Activision Blizzard president and CEO Bobby Kotick.

Bobby Kotick

Speaking with CNBC from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week, Kotick said that the game is on the forefront of new innovations in user interfaces that have helped keep the gaming industry vibrant. He also confirmed long-standing rumors that DJ Hero will arrive for unspecified platforms in 2009.

"We have this product called DJ Hero coming out later this year, which is a turntable that you actually can play competitively and spin discs and mix songs," said Kotick. "So there's definitely some physical interface that is starting to have an impact on the consumer."

Kotick's comments follow on from a number of other leaks and speculation concerning the upcoming rhythm game. According to online reports, the game will integrate both a turntable-style controller and Guitar Hero guitars. The controller, which reports claim is on its sixth iteration, allegedly includes a scratch platter, three buttons for sampling, a cross fader, and a sound-effects dial.

B-Boy creator FreeStyleGames, which Activision Blizzard purchased in September, is rumored to be developing DJ Hero. At the time of FreeStyleGames' acquisition, the publisher said that the developer was at work on localized downloadable content for Guitar Hero as well as a new intellectual property in the rhythm genre.

229 Comments

  • SolidSnake52

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:05 pm PT

    of what im saying come to my page!

  • SolidSnake52

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:04 pm PT

    Nice game im hopin its good....But...Sorry wii lovers which im one but ppl dont care about wii anymore because if game companys DID they would make games like hmmmm lets see....MK VS DC for WII or uhhhhhh MB Burnout pardise Grand theft auto you know so ya like games that are for like 360 & PS3 personally i dont own either system because people go to crazy over them just because memory stuff so i bought a wii which i love but what i want to say is that game companys shouldn't leave the wii out the should add games to it like is it so hard to make a game with punching kicking (im talking bout mk vs dc) using motion controls...well who cares if graphics are a bit bad but then the company would get more money so i want to say game companys shouldn't leave wii out but then theres way more stuff i could be talking about but this isnt the right place so if you want to see a whole Blog of wha

  • Anayalator408

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 5:10 pm PT

    im rootin for it

  • bishopphoto

    Posted Feb 12, 2009 8:26 am PT

    haha peruvian flute band hero. CLASSIC southparkians

    anyhoo, this game will ROCK. you know how i know? cuz i said so!!!!!

    BAM ROASTED!

  • x_Xarion_x

    Posted Feb 11, 2009 10:55 pm PT

    Peruvian Flute Band Hero!

  • dortega120

    Posted Feb 11, 2009 5:48 pm PT

    Man I can imagine a Wii exclusive in the future: Ocarina Hero: Link

  • Mush_Mouth

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 1:09 pm PT

    Next they should make Jug Band Hero..."Take your jug band to the top of the country/bluegrass music charts by playing your favorite country songs with the special spoon controller, moonshine jug controller, and fiddle controller! Yeeeeeehaw!!"

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 2:48 am PT

    I wonder if you could actually learn to be a DJ from using this game...

  • ddt88

    Posted Feb 4, 2009 11:33 pm PT

    For those saying dumb idea. When surveyed in the UK, residents said apart from being a soccer player the next biggest job everyone wanted to have was to be a DJ. Not such a dumb idea....

  • drand24

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    there needs to be a better phrase than "running into the ground"

  • coltsfan4ever

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:39 am PT

    It's funny how so many people are saying this game will suck. I doubt it will. It could turn out to be a little better then the Guitar Hero series. I hate how biased some people are towards other music. I dont listen to rock but I dont say it sucks. It's just not my style of music to listen to. Just because DJ Hero may have a little hip hop and rap does not mean it will suck. To fans of that music genre this may be the game they been waiting on. Just like rock fans wanted a game like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. If you dont like a certain music genre thats fine. But dont just say it sucks. You look like a fool then.

  • AlexandLandon

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 12:13 am PT

    Where are people getting the idea that Konami failed with Beatmania, Guitar Freaks, and DrumMania? All games have been around for nearly 10 years in Japan, and are still popping out sequels. I don't know how that justifies as failing.

  • aryoshi

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:00 pm PT

    Piano Hero anyone? n_n

  • TWiSTEDmerc

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:33 pm PT

    Sounds like a recycled Rock Revolution.

  • musicaz70

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    Man I'm already getting a head ache thinking of the kind of people who you will play against online...

  • doctorwang12

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:19 pm PT

    yay! (sarcasm)...wow wat a dumb idea dude....and no he does NOT look like john c reily..but n e ways looks freakin stupid

  • thpghalo3

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:17 pm PT

    What's next Triangle Hero?!

  • dkidfrmdbx

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 1:37 pm PT

    people need to get over themselves with this whole rip off thing. NOTHING IS ORIGINAl. It has been copied many times over or in some way influenced by something else. look at shakespeare, religion, pilitics, all creation stories, they all seem similar in some way dont they so get your heads out your butts. on other terms i am very skeptical about this being an avid rap and hip hop fan for my whole life, i dont know how they would measure a persons djing skill, but hey if konami did it wrong lets hope EA can do it right. Were all just gamers here waiting for the next best thing so dont sit and argue about whos copying who, because name a game and i bet you i can pick out similiraties it has to other games.

  • Betrueger666

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:38 pm PT

    GH is a far better game than guitar mania and drum freaks ever was and ever will be. Same goes for RB, far better game. So as for being rip-offs, not so much. If you do it better your just that... better. DJ Hero? Well that's great if you into doing ecstasy...

  • Azwethinkweiz89

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:07 pm PT

    Put some Run DMC, Fat Boy Slim, Incubus, Gorillaz, and I'll buy it.

  • AlexandLandon

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:24 am PT

    Oh great, another Konami/Bemani rip-off. What's next, Pop'n Hero?

  • Shadowflame291

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 10:58 am PT

    Maybe they'll do Banjo Hero next. LOL

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 10:17 am PT

    that guy looks like john c reily in step brothers.

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 10:08 am PT

    Hey some of y'all can say what you want...but I'm actually interested to see how this could play out. People thought GH and RB were a joke, too--but we all see where that went.....


    So we'll see

  • Mr_Versipellis

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 9:21 am PT

    DJ Hero == $$$£££$$$

  • kca89

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 9:07 am PT

    Am I the only one who thinks Bobby Kotick looks like Bobby Flay?

  • dynomitemasta

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 7:55 am PT

    dumb idea. and that guy is truly annoying to look at.

  • puablo

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 7:36 am PT

    Just come out with Herdy-Gerdy Hero and be done with it.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:30 am PT

    this was already in arcades and on ps2 years ago. this isn't new it just never caught on in the states before.

  • CrouchingGecko

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:12 am PT

    Or Moonshine Bottle Hero! (only 1 note!)

  • CrouchingGecko

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:11 am PT

    Harmonica Hero!

  • Justinge3

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:41 am PT

    Guitar hero or the "hero" series has been through so much milking. 3 gh ds games within less than a year, and gh aerosmith, metallica, and jimi hendrix.

  • roboman34

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:28 am PT

    Saxaphone hero .....YEA !

  • BangBangBoom

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:17 am PT

    I just don't see how this can work and still retain any feeling of being a DJ. Maybe I'm not imaginative enough......or maybe it will just suck.

  • MrFinalFantasy

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:01 am PT

    Piano Hero!..yeah!

  • habit0422

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 8:58 pm PT

    To everyone talking about Beatmania if you've played it or seen anyone playing it you know it doesn't resemble being a DJ at all, its more like a game of Simon. This sounds like it might be geared more towards being a DJ.

    @arcelonious You know you can get two dencent decks and a mixer for well under $1,500. My first setup ran me around $650.

  • Stunt_Pilot

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 8:50 pm PT

    I'm siding with everyone here for accordion hero. The GH franchise was awesome. But they're just milking it a little bit too much now. Also, if anyone's curious as to how this'll turn out, just go down to your local arcade. I'm sure there's already a Konami version of this that's been out for a few years already...

  • HidekiMotosuwaX

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 7:39 pm PT

    Yet another franchise to put on "To Sue" list by Konami. Boy, their going to find SOMETHING to sue these guys over like they did with Pentavision (DJMax).

  • Falc54

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 7:38 pm PT

    It is called BeatMania, it has been out for years, up to I believe 14 in Japan. Already had a US release

  • goskateboard

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 5:33 pm PT

    dont milk the guitar hero brandname! or maybe "hero"

  • Tyler_16

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 5:29 pm PT

    What fun... sounds like a cool concept... ever since my mom saw a pentagram in gutar hero 2 I havent been able to follow those games... but now that im almost 17 I think shell be less ummm.. objectionable to my game playing. maybe if this game is good ill pick it up for the first gutar hero game in a while.

  • Tking1293

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 5:12 pm PT

    If they can pull it off it might be a fresh boost to rhythm games.

  • iamnessie

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 5:11 pm PT

    i remember Konami having this before and it didn't turn out too well.

  • habit0422

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    @blackhawk887

    As a bedroom DJ I agree, for me it's about mixing for more than a hour uninterrupted. I just don't see how a game can rate you on the fundamentals of being a DJ, which are mixing and level control.

  • JReefer1

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    I just pictured this and after playing Gutair Hero, this will work ('nodding my head').

  • WASDPwned

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 2:53 pm PT

    Not content with ripping off every franchise in existence?

  • Altiar25

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    hamonica, harp and voilen hero next please

  • otanikun

    Posted Feb 1, 2009 1:33 pm PT

    Please don't : (
    Edit: Granted I'm as big a Guitar Hero fan as the next guy/girl is, but I don't wanna jump on the DJ bandwagon, that's reserved for Konami.

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