Rock Band: The Beatles to have unreleased tunes

In and of itself, Rock Band: The Beatles signifies a major victory for MTV Games and Harmonix, considering the Fab Four's infamous recalcitrance toward distributing its heralded catalog through digital mediums. It doesn't end there, though, as Dhani Harrison--son of the late Beatles guitarist...

In and of itself, Rock Band: The Beatles signifies a major victory for MTV Games and Harmonix, considering the Fab Four's infamous recalcitrance toward distributing its heralded catalog through digital mediums. It doesn't end there, though, as Dhani Harrison--son of the late Beatles guitarist George Harrison--has revealed to Billboard that the game will also include previously unreleased material.

According to Harrison, Rock Band: The Beatles will feature a selection of songs that "has never been heard, never been released." Unfortunately, Harrison the younger was not authorized to go into further detail on what the unreleased material entails. However, he did go on to say that the game will be "totally, historically accurate," saying the game and the deal that ushered it in have been in development for the past two years.

Rock Band: The Beatles is expected to arrive on the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii on September 9. MTV Games plans on offering it as a $59.99 stand-alone purchase or as part of a $249.99 full-band bundle, equipped with an all-new drum set, guitar, and microphone modeled after the Beatles' own instruments. Stand-alone guitars will be priced at $99.99 each. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Rock Band: The Beatles.

98 Comments

  • henbo1

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 6:45 am PT

    Youtube vids look so good.. www.rockbandthebeatles.com looks pretty good site for price comparison and who is giving discounts and free delivery..

  • misterbutt

    Posted May 31, 2009 8:42 pm PT

    score89 the stones suck compared to beatles. i for one cant wait to get this on the wii. (im too cheap for a 360 or ps3). and i hope it has i am the walrus.

  • chefbabyryan

    Posted May 24, 2009 8:25 am PT

    i love the beatles! But rock band? I mean the songs aren't that complex...

  • dabrry0523

    Posted May 5, 2009 3:44 pm PT

    this is to real-guitar hero

    for a few songs???? the Beatles created around 336 songs. For me i think they can make quite a good game out of those numbers. So 60 dollars sounds good to me.

  • score89

    Posted May 3, 2009 4:53 pm PT

    I would prefer a Rolling Stones Rock Band, for al those people talking trash about music playing based games, you are just thrashing out to all video games genres , if you consider yourself a gamer you need to understand that not every game has to be in the same page,i dont like racing and sports games but that doesnt mean that those games suck, and not every game can be a imitation of halo

  • Ag3nt_Orang3

    Posted May 2, 2009 6:51 pm PT

    If video games are a waste of time, then so is watching a movie isn't it? Nobody says going to the movies is a waste of time, yet you cant even interact with a movie like you can a video game...Its entertainment just like anything else

  • Stereomaster

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 5:20 pm PT

    Sounds like fun, Beatles down, now they have to get U2, the Guns N Roses hit songs, and there is always more that I can't remember at the moment...

  • xTriviumx

    Posted Mar 17, 2009 2:44 pm PT

    i kind of stopped playing these after gh3.

  • soapmanFC

    Posted Mar 16, 2009 7:29 am PT

    It is a full game

  • real-guitarhero

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 6:29 pm PT

    why $60?
    thats as much a full game alone!! just for a couple of songs! i wonder how much it would cost to get them all online if theyre available. probably less because you're not paying for the distribution and the disk and that.

  • Rengarg

    Posted Mar 15, 2009 1:57 am PT

    I don't get why people say thinks like 'I play guitar so there is no point getting this'. Hey, I play Guitar, and a bunch of other instruments, and I find the game fun. See? FUN. Rock Band and GH aren't about an accurate representation of playing an instrument (tho the drums and mic are more or less accurate ), they are games. Meant for FUN. Thats like saying 'I know how to use a gun, so there is no point playing Killzone'. Bollocks. And I know thats an extreme example, but honestly, should I care? Its the same principle. Anyway, on a different note, this is gonna be an awesome game. I would've been fine withat least one beatles song on rock band, but 45 odd? Yes please Mister Mustard!

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 10:59 pm PT

    hmm, i'd buy it but you stupid EA/Harmonix Pr1ck$ haven't released Rock Band 2 in Australia yet, and the only reason you gave us Rock Band 1 was because Activision gave us World Tour on Time.

  • FarmFreshDX

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 1:55 pm PT

    It's amazing how stories like these make everyone forget that Harmonix lied right to your faces in many news articles saying that the Beatles game would be built "from the ground up" and "from scratch." Too bad you're just getting Guitar Hero: Aerosmith with The Beatles slapped on the front!

  • joelgargan

    Posted Mar 14, 2009 2:41 am PT

    @MovingFarqua
    too true buddy, too true.

  • Alex_09

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 5:37 pm PT

    @Kcube

    Twist your words around?? I honestly make an effort every day not to do that since it happens a lot to me. I didn't twist your words one bit. You said, should I go out and start shooting people because I like FPSes? What did I misunderstand? I see your "point", but it is entirely invalid. Killing sprees aren't morally acceptable by anybodys standard. Well except yours obviously, and I suppose the Taliban and Charles Mansion mentioned below... I didn't twist one word so don't try that, either you made a joke in bad taste, or a stupid point, and either way, it was wrong. And it's funny you would say that to me when nearly everyone who has replied to me has twisted MY words...

  • BattleSword1

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 3:44 pm PT

    Speaking words of wisdom, let it be...

  • cmon007

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 2:37 pm PT

    I wonder if Charles Manson will be a playable character for Helter Skelter...

  • McMurmur

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 2:13 pm PT

    I hope they include Abbey Road as a venue for the 'Studio era' songs. No audience of course, just the four of them laying down the track. That would be a great touch.

  • BrunetteGuard07

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 2:02 pm PT

    It also says in that Billboard article that Dhani 'was used as a model for some of the game's characters'. I wonder if he could be the model for George because there's no way you could deny him as George's son. Dhani is like his clone or something, lol jk. Dhani is awesome. I remember watching a recent interview of him where he joked that he already had the finished Beatles game with him in the 'man bag' be was carrying.
    This will be a painful summer that's for sure with the anticipation of this games release. CAN'T WAIT!

  • abeard424

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    I just can't wait to play the day tripper guitar riff

  • MovingFarqua

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:18 pm PT

    Hey iv got an idea.
    Lets milk as many people for as much money as possible !
    Think it will work ?

  • Sweetwater94 posted Mar 13, 2009 12:05 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Sweetwater94

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 12:05 pm PT (hide)

    Am I supposed to be excited for this??

  • valcrist09

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 10:56 am PT

    meh, stand alone add ons for 60$ are not worth at all.. I am getting sick of these band games...

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 9:51 am PT

    While it appears this would be 'boring' in comparision with a lot of the modern GH and RB tracks many of us are familiar with... the news of this is hitting the casual older crowd in force. This might be what finally makes RB a bigger name than GH... I sure hope it works, RB has better branding and franchise 'honor' than GH.

  • dzimm

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 9:25 am PT

    "Unreleased track" usually means "It wasn't good enough to warrant a single or album release back when the Beatles were still together, but we know the obsessive fans will eat it up anyway."

    (And I say that as someone who owns all three Anthology albums, "Let It Be... Naked", and "Love".)

  • jazilla

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 9:17 am PT

    So you will start playing at The Cave in Berlin, then Royal Albert Hall, Yankee Stadium, Candlestick Park, and The Rooftop in the Let It Be gigs. Sounds cool.

  • Tr5978

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 9:13 am PT

    Unreleased tracks? Some rabid Beatles fans would buy a console and the full band bundle just for that reason, even if they've never picked up a game in their life.

  • Oni

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 8:26 am PT

    Wow, I'm impressed. You say the Beatles suck and have no valid argument to back it up. Do they suck because they have more #1 hit songs than anyone? Or do they suck because they revolutionized music not only with song writing but with recording technology and production? Even if you despise their music you have to admire their accomplishments.

  • ckat609

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 8:17 am PT

    It's a game... true... and games are supposed to be fun... of course... by definition, all video games are "role playing". So come on people! What's the big deal about feeling like a rock star when playing a rock star themed game? Don't they have huge conventions, shows, movies and even worldwide championships about games? So why shouldn't it be a big deal? I'm pretty sure at least a couple of people, young or old, have been inspired to grab a real instrument after playing one of these games. I do play guitar and piano and that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a fun Rock Band jam session because "it's just a game". I'm sure most, if not all, of us have air-guitarred some song at least once in our life and felt as though we were actually rocking the hell out of that song... so really, enough already!

  • gros__bill

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 6:53 am PT

    Did they announce anything about rockband2 compatibility?? Will we be able the play the beatles song in our rockband 2 games? Or the rockband song in the beatles games?? Did they say anything about that? I know they said that it will be a stand alone game, but the two rockband games are stand-alone and completely compatible...

  • PopeReal

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 6:32 am PT

    Units420 is exactly right. Even though I have never played a music game, unless someone can prove me wrong they are still just video games. No matter what genre it is, or how much you are "in to it", in theory you could always be doing something better with your time. Telling people who play music games that they should be playing real instruments instead is like telling someone playing sports games they should be outside playing; someone playing a FPS that they should be having target practice, hunting, or joining the army.

    Any gamer telling another gamer that they are wasting their time is pure hypocrisy.

  • wkociol posted Mar 13, 2009 6:26 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    wkociol

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 6:26 am PT (hide)

    The Beatles - I would call them a rock band. I'd rather see Rock Band: Muse

  • Units420

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 5:50 am PT

    To crazy guns and alex 09:

    I think its kind of sad that you guys or gals need to come on here and berate anyone who decides to take part in rhythm games. I don;t think anyone who plays these games has ever or will ever claim to be a real musician. Furthermore, if you did your homework, you would realize that more kids are picking up real instruments now because of these games. And what if I don't want to play the real thing or don't have time to invest in learning to play an instrument? What I don't understand is if these games bother you so much, why come into a story about them and comment? Ultimately, I am curious as to what is an acceptable genre of game to play were players aren't practicing "tool" behavior?

  • PopeReal

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 5:15 am PT

    Actually that would be 2 guitars and 1 bass, if they are going for accuracy.

  • jsmoke03

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 3:10 am PT

    are we going to have 3 guitars in the game though? or is it just 2...hope there is 3....thats accurate

  • Crazy_Guns

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 2:26 am PT

    Good news for people who play Rock Band (I never have, used to play GH but quit that and play real piano instead). But still, The Beatles is a great band, glad you guys are getting some good content. And yeah, I do agree with Alex_09. I have absolutely nothing against people who play these games for fun and to goof off and try and beat each-others scores etc. (heck I did, and still do once in a great while) but the idiots who think they are musicians or are hot stuff just because they play Rock Band / Guitar Hero are tools, lol. But seriously, these games are getting so expensive with all the new peripherals etc. that you might as well just buy yourself a real instrument and sit down and get productive. Like I said, I play some of the older GH games on occasion so I'm not hating here, just saying, if you are taking the time to play that you might as well learn an instrument *in the meantime*. Be it guitar, saxaphone, drums, piano, tuba, violin, ocarina, whatever. Anything you like, with as much time and money as you put in to mastering these games you could be playing the real songs by now. =P Just my 0.2 cents.

  • S2333

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:55 am PT

    This game sounds great and I can't wait for it to arrive.

  • Alex_09 posted Mar 13, 2009 1:46 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Alex_09

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:46 am PT (hide)

    And I am impressed that most of you guys do play instruments, but from my experience, nearly every person who plays this game in my group of friends, or outside of it, is a talentless "musician". My best friend even sold his Pearl drum kit, and spent 300 bucks of it on RockBand! Now he sits around whenever a song comes on and starts swinging his arms as if he could actually play them other than on the drum pad in game, and everyone around laughs and laughs. That is disgusting period. I can also think of 4 other guys with guitars I wish I owned, who instead just sit around playing Guitar Hero or Rockband. If you play both, great. But if you play this simply because you don't have the effort or energy to try your hand at a real instrument, you are pathetic.

    EDIT: I really misworded this, I meant in my group of friends, not outside of it. I don't know where that came from. This is my best appology I guess hahaha nevermind the outside part.

  • Alex_09

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 1:25 am PT

    @B00MNoPanties

    Uhhh... I never said he is a master. Don't put words in my mouth and then use them as your entire basis for your argument.. Just because someone is famous doesn't mean they are a master musician... Nickelback are famous, so there goes that point of yours. And he is quite famous in my city with over a million people, so don't try and tell me he is not talented.

    He did learn in two weeks(obviously not everthing, how stupid can you be?), he is a great, natural musician, and if he didn't drink so much he could go further than you, me, or anybody else on these forums, no matter how long we have all played. Second, why would I make that up? And I find it pitiful a supposed "musician" would try and argue natural talent. He learned the entire song "Back in Black" by ACDC the first day he got his guitar. He bought it in the morning, asked me how to do the intro riff, and the next time I saw him playing he was playing Stairway to Heaven entirely and another Led Zeppelin song(which I am ashamed to have forgotten the name of) perfectly. What a pathetic argument. And whatever guys, you can keep playing guitar hero when you're 60, but I would prefer real music. When you can create your own music on rockband, rather than just tapping 6 buttons to hear crappy covers and great songs with half the notes missing, then I will call it a great game.

  • Mushroomhead2

    Posted Mar 13, 2009 12:58 am PT

    250?? no wayyy I already have all the instruments anyway...and a few to spare lol GH metallica is gonna be way better I think but then again I like ta RAWK

  • Riprock

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 11:50 pm PT

    It is possible to respect and appreciate a band and their influence, but not like them or their music and voice your opinion accordingly - perfectly acceptable. But just because you don't like them at all does not mean they are a write-off altogether. Liking and respecting are two different things. It would appear people are often too polarized and can't do more than one thing at a time. If they don't like, they disregard any and all associated influence (even beyond themselves) as irrelevant. That's just illogical and rather immature. But then, maturity seems to be a rare commodity these days. And I don't claim to be any better. Let's just try to differentiate between an honest opinion and a bunch of hype (to either extreme), and hopefully stick more to the former rather than the later. And yes, in my humble opinion, the Beatles rock... but then I still remember seeing them on The Ed Sullivan Show.

  • victor_g1987

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 10:49 pm PT

    21 years old and I love The Beatles and have loved them since I was 17! I'm difinitely gonna get this game, the drumming is going to be easy for the most part but I don't care, Ringo rules. btw I play the guitar and The Beatles are the reason I started playing!

  • jjfrazier

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:33 pm PT

    Why not do a game and wireless guitar bundle? I would buy that for around $125.00.

  • jarhead7meu0311

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 9:04 pm PT

    what the hell is up with these people trying to tell other people they can't say the beatles suck. I love the beatles and have been an avid listener all 23 years I've been alive, my parents doing. Yes they revolutionized music and influenced either directly or indirectly damn near every band around. Does this mean that a hell of a lot of people like them, yes, does it mean you are not allowed to not like them, of course not. Appealing to the majority to prove you are right is one of the first logical fallacies. If you don't like the beatles say so, don't let idiots like The Austrian get you down. I mean when did the beatles become a cult, you say they suck and every ones down your throat trying to prove the unprovable. Even getting mechwarriors comment that they suck covered up for "not meeting display criteria." Which would be what exactly, absolute ideological and personal conformity so as to not upset the small minded who can't stand to see an opinion unless it matches their own.

    One of the great appeals of music is its subjectivity. Songs have meanings to me that mean different things to other people and that's fine. I don't try and force my interpretation of a song on everyone else or freak out if they don't like what I do. Its called having a difference of opinion, and on something so subjective like music who the f%$@ are any of you to tell anyone else they should like something or they sound stupid for thinking about something differently than you do. So in closing, get a life, accept some people may not like everything you do, and in some cases may dislike something you enjoy. I know, it may be a little too much for you all at once, but take a deep breath, get your head out of your own a** and get to it. It will be a better world for it.

  • bassmaniac20005

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 8:49 pm PT

    Hot diggety damn.

  • dragonkiller012

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 8:40 pm PT

    5 years ago, i hated the beatles because of their name. i been thinking i wasn't been giving them a chance. so last year, i started listening to it and i was like "wow" this is amazing. but the only drawback to me is i dont have the instruments or rock band itself if necessary.

  • Glade_Gnarr posted Mar 12, 2009 8:07 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 8:07 pm PT (hide)

    That's weird, why won't they just release their greatest hits and be done with it?

  • TheFamousEccles

    Posted Mar 12, 2009 7:58 pm PT

    Although it won't convince me (the concept of Rock Band and Guitar Hero disgust me), that is some amazingly smart business practice.

    Lets hope they'll be released in a normal format. If not, I'll survive.

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