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Guitar Hero 5 confirmed for fall

Next installment in Activision's popular rhythm game franchise bringing 85 new tracks to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PS2.

Today, Activision pulled the trigger on its own official announcement for Guitar Hero 5, following on from Friday's inadvertent reveal by one of the publisher's European publicity partners. While much of the information contained in today's announcement isn't new, Activision's official word did bring a few original tidbits of information. Namely, the publisher said that the next flagship installment in its popular rhythm game franchise will arrive this fall for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and PlayStation 2.

Yep, that's Guitar Hero.

Yep, that's Guitar Hero.

Activision also revealed more details concerning the new Party Play and RockFest modes. The former will allow players to drop in and out of in-progress tunes on the fly, while the latter includes five new competitive scenarios that can be played online or offline. The publisher also said it has revisited the Guitar Hero Music Studio, adding a new coat of paint to the art style and redesigning a number of song-creation tools.

Guitar Hero 5's set list will contain 85 master recordings. As previously revealed, acts currently signed on include The Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, and Kings of Leon. Activision also noted that Guitar Hero 5's entire set list will be playable from the start instead of needing to be unlocked as players progress through the game.

Guitar Hero World Tour developer Neversoft Entertainment has been tasked with creating the Xbox 360 and PS3 editions of Guitar Hero 5, while Vicarious Visions is handling Wii development and Budcat is crafting the PS2 edition. Check back with GameSpot for more on Guitar Hero 5 as the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo approaches in early June.

105 Comments

  • Pateatworld

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 6:54 pm GMT

    Am i the only one who thinks maybe by now, if you have played enough guitar hero you should just go buy a guitar and learn to play it? at this rate will be at GH 10 and a majority of the people still playing these titles are still not playing real guitar

  • LxLawliet

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 2:33 am GMT

    @joosyjuice

    I completely agree. And there's just something about playing the unknown that adds a little thrill to it.


    @ Everyone else who is telling us to not complain about "milking" and the game releases

    It's not so much the "milking" that's bothering me. I don't purchase the games I don't like, so in that sense, it matters little to me. However, what I do like is Guitar Hero. And I believe releasing all these titles completely dilutes the value of the name, and makes it less and less respectable. You're right GC4ever, we don't have to purchase the games if we don't want to, but I feel like all these releases are affecting the way Guitar Hero is being received. Now, instead of people saying, "Hell yes, it's a new Guitar Hero!", we're starting to also get, "Oh great, it's ANOTHER Guitar Hero," as is evident in many of these comments. And to PyroPice, why do people care? I don't know why people care, but I know why I do. I enjoy video games, and I enjoy these games and I don't want the Guitar Hero name to be worn out and tarnished anytime soon.

  • LxLawliet

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 2:32 am GMT

    To your reference about the Lego Rock Band: yeah, it's retarded. No argument there. Beatles and Lego would only make the Rock Band GAME library at 4. It gives them time to redeem themselves, which I hope they do, and don't release games at a ridiculous rate.


    @thetravman

    If you guys want to consider the track lists actual games, then so be it. But I don't, and from my point of view, there has only been three Rock Band games. These track packs are meant to expand their current games on the market, and allow for people to continue playing these games with new entertainment, so they don't get bored. Consumers don't have to go out and buy an actual new game, based around one band, when they can have selective downloading on the Rock Band online store. You can buy these tracks together, or buy them individually. There is choice and selectivity. To me, considering the track packs and downloadable content as a whole new game is just absurd. They aren't. And I'm glad that everytime I want to play a certain song, I don't have to change games to play them.

  • LxLawliet

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 2:32 am GMT

    They support their players with good content, and in addition to that, RB2's high score is because of its ability to have something for everyone. People don't think the songs are better because they're easy, it's because they're actually songs that people enjoy, and that's the whole concept of these rhythm games: being able to play your favorite songs together with your friends. Easy, medium, hard songs, it has something for the hardcore and the casual crowd, blending it into one ultimate entertainment experience. If you're the type that thinks the more challenging is always better, then I have nothing to say to that. And it's Rock BAND, and therefore not only is there stuff that's difficult for guitar, but drums, vocals, and bass. I never played the first RB, so I wouldn't know how significant the improvements are in RB2, however it's a good game in itself, and the ability to import all of the first RB's songs into the second one is genius and once again, benefits the player, as I only had to borrow the first one from a friend and pay five bucks for another game's worth of songs. You want to say RB2 stole all of GH's upgrades? You can say that, but honestly most of them, if not all, were necessary upgrades anyway. Online gameplay, a more in-depth character customization, etc. It'd be stupid if they made another game and kept it all the same. And I'll say it again, the DLC for RB kicks ass.

  • LxLawliet

    Posted Jun 20, 2009 2:31 am GMT

    @osdlho

    Guitar Hero has a much more established base, due to the fact that it began way before Rock Band. I like Guitar Hero, and were it not for GH2, I wouldn't have gotten into rhythm gaming in the first place. But honestly, RB2 topped GHWT, and many of my friends, who are hardcore GH players, like RB2 better and regret purchasing GHWT.

    Frankly, I don't see GHWT topping RB2 in anything. It's got the track maker, which is a good side thing, but other than that, I don't think there's anything else. You're arguing that GHWT is harder? Perhaps many of the songs are more difficult than many of the RB2 songs, but RB2 has challenging songs as well. RB2 got better reviews worldwide. Surely you're not saying that the world is biased? RB2 has better reviews because as I've mentioned, better graphics, better hardware, and a better track list. BUT, not only is it a better track list, but because the DLC completely owns the GH content.

  • dr_satan69

    Posted May 30, 2009 2:16 pm GMT

    this kinda looks exactly like world tour with different songs. these games are damn fun but there are way too many

  • DbleBassDrummer

    Posted May 29, 2009 5:33 am GMT

    I swear, the first time I glanced across the article, I could have sworn it said, "Guitar Hero 5 confirmed for fail."

  • Pitthepunisher

    Posted May 28, 2009 2:07 pm GMT

    Song choice will make or break this game. It is what has made the difference between good and bad guitar hero games
    Guitar Hero 2 had great songs
    Guitar Hero Aerosmith had horrible songs
    Even though they have drums and singing, the focus should still be guitar and som bass.

  • Apiopi

    Posted May 28, 2009 1:57 pm GMT

    I find the name Guitar Hero 5 not being too attractive, don't know why. The 5, I mean...doesn't sound good...If you were to ask someone who didn't know about Guitar Hero if he preferred to play World Tour or 5, he would say World Tour, right?

  • joosyjuice

    Posted May 28, 2009 8:03 am GMT

    Ehhh not having to unlock songs seems like a bad idea. I feel like it gives you a reason to play the songs you normally wouldn't. I found out I didn't hate some songs I thought I did because I was forced to play them in World Tour and Rock Band.

  • BigDog333187

    Posted May 27, 2009 7:48 pm GMT

    Mr_moron_man
    GHMetallica has a queen song

  • tugainuk

    Posted May 27, 2009 7:27 pm GMT

    well i hope they put some newer bands on there i would like to see stuff like more linkin park some limpbizkit madina lake more 30secs to mars hell throw some good charlote on there not just classics otherwise i will get bored fast

  • Audiosmile

    Posted May 27, 2009 3:29 pm GMT

    this one is sounding good, hopefully it will bring back the glory of guitar hero 1 and 2. i thought 3 and 4 were too easy on guitar. i like what i am hearing so far

  • Jonny7892

    Posted May 27, 2009 12:15 pm GMT

    They better have some more ted nugent

  • mr_moron_man

    Posted May 27, 2009 7:22 am GMT

    Every new rhythm game that comes out I always cross my fingers for some Queen songs...but it never happens.

    Although I love Guitar hero and I'll definatley pick this one up.

  • Pokemon18986

    Posted May 27, 2009 4:28 am GMT

    i dont care what any of you say, Guitar Hero rocks compared to Rock Band

  • peyjwun

    Posted May 26, 2009 9:29 pm GMT

    kings of leon awwshum

  • bildevo

    Posted May 26, 2009 7:38 pm GMT

    hahahaha facistina your my hero

  • facistinabag

    Posted May 26, 2009 7:21 pm GMT

    Whoever is arguing about how accurate the notes are in these games has gotten way to far into them. You realize your arguing about how accurate a real guitar is in comparison to a 5 button plastic thing hooked up to an xbox.... right?

  • Odiewodie_911

    Posted May 26, 2009 6:36 pm GMT

    @GC4ever- remember rock band may not be making tons of games but, there dlc is more than enough for a whole other game

  • Snicker-Man

    Posted May 23, 2009 6:47 pm GMT

    cant wait till this game comes out and rock band isnt even that good

  • GC4ever

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:35 pm GMT

    i aggre with pyropice
    u dont need to buy the games if u dont want to
    activision is only makin these games cause people want them
    i mean look at harmonix
    unplugged and the beatles in one year...
    im pretty sure if they were as big as neversoft is they would be poping out tiles left and right so get over it and quit all this bashing!!!

  • PyroPice

    Posted May 20, 2009 10:49 pm GMT

    Why the bashing? Why do you people care? How is activision releasing tons of guitar hero games afffecting your life in a negative way? does knowing other people still might enjoy the same old guitar hero with new songs while you dont really anger you? Guitar hero is MAKING MONEY , so PEOPLE LIKE IT,stop acting like companies making money and people enjoying new music is destroying your life.

  • osdlho

    Posted May 20, 2009 7:40 pm GMT

    @thetravman

    yea you are right they do add extra chords to single notes

  • thetravman

    Posted May 20, 2009 6:31 pm GMT

    Osdlho

    I own both games, and I think Rock band is a little more accurate on notes than GH. GH does tend to alot more notes than there should on some songs. I see RB doing it only a couple times. Ramblin Man in RB overdid it though. GH also adds unnecessary chords on single notes.

  • osdlho

    Posted May 20, 2009 5:38 pm GMT

    @SeekerStorm

    What? Guitar Hero is way more accurate, Rock Band adds notes to make it more challenging. Using emotions? If by that you mean stating facts and a few opinions, then no. That's what comments are for.

  • vulcan_ape11

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:39 pm GMT

    to bluefalcon21

    i understand there are a lot of games, but those one band only games are just glorified track packs. i guess my only complaint is that they should be cheaper, but i have no problem with their release. Its just extra songs, if u like it then buy it, but if you dont then dont buy it. However for the people who do like the music, they get a chance to ''be'' their rock idols by playing the game. Now i agree i would rather have more dlc but hey its still more music so i cant complain. The music genre isnt oversaturated. There are two main franchises with a number of spinoffs. Think about it if they released fewer games then people would get bored of the games due to replaying the same songs, and dlc can only go so far. I mean theres nothing like playing career mode and unlocking all the songs on the disc

  • mr-wong

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:56 pm GMT

    I'm fourteen and i listen to the beatles

  • andrwindmddl77

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:04 am GMT

    sorry but i'll be sticking with rock band from now on. ghwt did not have as good of tracks as I was hoping while rock band's list contained much better songs. also rock band has better and more dlc ftw

  • osdlho

    Posted May 20, 2009 10:37 am GMT

    @buffdaddy69

    I never said that The Beatles were "not good", I said old people listen to them. I should rephrase that. Older people listen to them. I do not think they suck, I just don't listen to them. But on to the 4 games thing. Rock Band put out 6 games in two years 5 of them DLC worthy. RB1,2,ACDC TP, Classic Rock TP, TP1,2. Yes I am counting RB2 as DLC worthy and not game worthy simply because they could have updated most of the changes they made and the songs could have been DLC. You're right about RB2 not equaling being milked but the track packs are milking it. The only difference between GH and RB is GH doesn't put track pack in their game titles. And I'm not sure what 4 mostly DLC worthy games you are talking about. Since GH3, they have only released GH Aerosmith, GH Metallica, and GH World Tour, excluding DS titles. Aerosmith as DLC and Metallica as DLC makes sense and that's only three games. The rest, that people are saying are milking the series, haven't been released. In fact, most of them do not even have a release date.

  • SeekerStorm

    Posted May 20, 2009 10:30 am GMT

    Geez osdlho, It´s just a game!Stop being a douche hater!
    GHWT = More challenging, notes falling where they dont exist, feels better on guitar outdated graphics.
    RB2= more accurate on notes, solid Drums, Less challenging, worse tracks compared GHWT.
    Simple, dont use emotions, after all they are making money, not you.

  • osdlho

    Posted May 20, 2009 9:57 am GMT

    @LxLawliet

    GHWT killed Rock Band 2 in monthly sells numerous times. Thanks to thetravman for pointing out that Rock Band has been milked just as much, if not more because they are making two knew ones, trackpack 3 and lego rock band. Legos? Seriously? The notes already look like legos. Rock Band received better scores because these websites are biased. Most of the improvements for Rock Band 2, like more online modes, more character customization, being able to hire managers in the Tour Modes, weren't available on the wii because it is just a quickplay game and it got the same score as the 360 version which doesn't make sense. Besides, Rock Band copied all of GH's Updates. Why else would they make a new game if the first one was "so great"? They knew GH was gonna be better. A better tracklist? All of rock bands songs are easy, that's why people think it's better. Better graphics? Yea, maybe. I haven't really looked at them, I'm too busy hittting notes. Of course, with a game that easy, I guess you have time to look at graphics. Better hardware? Definitely, but that's only because they screwed up so badly the first time. But you can't really compare GHWT to Rock Band 2 because RB2 is the second one. Wait for GH5 and compare it to RB2 and we will see which is truly better.

  • tominater1000

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:08 am GMT

    @Bluefalcon21
    Tbh it doesnt matter about how many games they release, surely thats a good thing, then u just buy the ones u want and leave the rest, no point complaining bout 2 many games cuz u dont hav 2 buy them all, if ur gonna complain then complain about what isnt there, not what is. No ones forcin u to buy games u dont want.

  • bluefalcon21

    Posted May 19, 2009 11:15 pm GMT

    To vulcan_ape11-
    Really??? You need to open your eyes! Guitar Hero has a slew of random off games that shouldn't even be there. For instance all these "one band only games" (IE-Metallica, Aerosmith), I enjoy their music but I'd rather just buy Rock Band and enjoy downloading certain music at my leisure. Instead of forking 60 bucks every time a new Guitar Hero came out. Activision did this with the Tony Hawk series, which is now pretty much dying, and eventually Guitar Hero will do the same.

  • red-cobra130

    Posted May 19, 2009 10:12 pm GMT

    cant wait for milkin it hero coming to a farm near you this fall

  • LP4EVA2005

    Posted May 19, 2009 9:27 pm GMT

    im still waiting for a guitar hero : senses fail

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted May 19, 2009 7:49 pm GMT

    @vulcan_ape11
    You do realize that those games come every few years but GH has released like 7 games in the last 12 months, right?

  • vulcan_ape11

    Posted May 19, 2009 4:58 pm GMT

    I am SICK of hearing all this talk about milking. Everyone is complaining about all the music games. Funny no one complains about the amount of first person shooters. And there are a lot of FPS'es out there. Halo, Cod4, 5, 6, killzone, haze, rainbow six vegas1,2, the conduit, farcry, call of juarez just to name a few.Also what about all the real time strategy games. The fact is music games have every right to be on the market. I guess its because only 2 companies are making good ones so it seems oversaturated even though it isn't. Come on there are more shooters, than music games out there. Music games are fun and make money, activision has every right to release new versions of guitar hero. Its called making money people. I have world tour and rock band and i still want to get smash hits, mettalica, and guitar hero 5. These companies are making games for your enjoyment and you complain IM SICK OF IT. If you honestly think its to much then I got a solution for you. It may be tricky, but with some thought it can be done. All you have to do is don't buy the game and stop complaining because the fact is there are more people who want this game than there are who don't. The people who do just don't bother to comment as much as the complainers. Plus activision is fixing the music studio, and adding new modes. How is that bad.

  • thetravman

    Posted May 19, 2009 4:26 pm GMT

    LxLawliet, what are you talking about? RB almost has just as many games as GH. Rock Band 1,2,TP 1,2, ACDC, classic rock,country,Beatles,Pearl Jam, Unplugged within a 3 year period. Since activision took over GH: 3,4,5,Aerosmith,Metallica,Van Halen, Smash Hits,On Tour 1,2,3 within a 3 year period.
    It's almost just as many games from both developers. And yes I still call the track packs games even if they are based on DLC. Its intention is still the same as Activision about expanding their crowd who don't have DLC.

  • LxLawliet

    Posted May 19, 2009 4:00 pm GMT

    I don't mind the fact that Guitar Hero is releasing it's fifth official title already, however all the in-betweens really are a little excessive. Rock Band hasn't milked its franchise at all, however I don't find the idea of Rock Band Beatles good. Beatles are good music, however a whole video game made for their music, I'm not sure it would be a hot selller. Unplugged is the first game Rock Band has that's going portable, so I don't hold that against them.

    Basically, I'd prefer them to just release Rock Band 1, 2, 3 or Guitar Hero 1, 2, 3 AT LEAST one year apart, instead of having all the in-betweens. The at least one year interval would give them enough time to make significant improvements on the sequels, and while those are being developed, just pump out downloadable content. That seems to make more sense, and seems to be cheaper than producing all these sub Guitar Hero titles.

    And at "osdlho", RB2 topped GHWT quite notoriously. With a better tracklist, better graphics, and more durable hardware, RB2 received much better reviews and scores. Guitar Hero can only hope to win the next match, which pits GH5 against RB3.

  • thrjpo

    Posted May 19, 2009 3:55 pm GMT

    Yawn.....zzz.....zzz.......zzz....zzz

  • skullboy950

    Posted May 19, 2009 3:48 pm GMT

    Another day, another Guitar Hero/Rock Band game/clone announced. Make it stop!

  • otanikun

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:51 pm GMT

    DLC, DLC, DLC!!!
    I'm tired of this crap now, seriously sick and tired of how much Activision is milking a once awesome franchise.

    I'm getting Smash Hits and calling it quits, rhyme unintentional, but seriously, this is getting way out of hand.

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:18 pm GMT

    " osdlho

    Posted May 19, 2009 4:58 pm GMT

    I am tired of all this milking talk! I bet no one says that rock band is being milked, even though Rock Band 2 was clearly not an improvement and was only made because Harmonix was scared of Guitar Hero World Tour out competing them(which they did anyway). The various track packs that have been made and now Rock Band Beatles and Rock Band Unplugged? Are you kidding me!? You don't even play instruments in Unplugged, that game is a joke and the only people who like the beatles are old and don't play videogames! I do agree that they are getting ridiculous with the series but think about it. What if you wanted to play Van Halen but didn't have World Tour? Well, on top of buying World Tour, you now have to buy the dlc. At least with the ridiculous releases you get more songs for your money, unlike the rockband track packs that cost you just as much as dlc per song. No one realizes that Rock Band does the same thing and that's rather annoying. GH Van Halen? Yea maybe they are putting the bucket under the utters. On Tour Modern Hits? Milking the utters. But Metallica has been known for quite some time and Guitar Hero 5 a year after number 4 is ok only because Rock Band did the same with number 2. Greatest Hits is ok if it doesn't cost $60 dollars since it's the same songs again. As for On Tour, those are for DS players and you have to cut them some slack although 2 games is pushing it."

    The Beatles not good? You sir, don't know anything about good music. Rock Band isn't being Milked In a two year period Guitar Hero released 4 games, most of them just being DLC worthy. Were Rock Band has had only two games, and they mainly rely on DLC to get them through until they decide to work on a new game. Rock Band 2 = Not being Milked. Guitar Hero 5 = Milking the series for all its worth by over charging for DLC worthy add ons.

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:14 pm GMT

    Booooooooooooooooooo.

    PLEASE DIE ALREADY GUITAR HERO! *cries*

  • Quinn144

    Posted May 19, 2009 1:03 pm GMT

    Too bad they have'nt made a Guitar Hero Led Zeppelin.

  • shoeman12

    Posted May 19, 2009 12:59 pm GMT

    yeah, johnny cash and tom petty! i'm sure the whole setlist will be just as good.

  • dkslade

    Posted May 19, 2009 11:34 am GMT

    Now I can swap 5 discs to play songs, CRAP what disc is Velvet Revolver AGAIN ?????

  • AJ-2K7

    Posted May 19, 2009 11:29 am GMT

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE put a couple of muse songs on, or at least release some to download. Knights Of Cydonia should be on again as well as plug in baby

  • kytomasi

    Posted May 19, 2009 10:23 am GMT

    must... have.... song list.....

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