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Rock Band 3 confirmed for this holiday

Harmonix and MTV Games getting the band back together, Electronic Arts handling distribution once more.

After devoting last year's installment of the Rock Band franchise entirely to The Beatles, Harmonix and MTV Games are getting back to their roots. The pair announced via Facebook today that Rock Band 3 is set for release this holiday season. Electronic Arts will once again be handling distribution duties.

EA, MTV Games, and Harmonix are ready for an encore.

EA, MTV Games, and Harmonix are ready for an encore.

The Facebook status update promises that Rock Band 3 "will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again," but provides no other details. Platforms, new features, song lists, and other details will be revealed at a later date.

While it will have been two years since Rock Band 2 hit shelves, the rhythm franchise has not been inactive. In addition to the Beatles game and weekly updates to the downloadable catalog of songs, last year saw the series try to broaden its appeal with Lego Rock Band, and this year will see punk act Green Day receive its own dedicated game. Harmonix also just launched the Rock Band Network, a separate (and more open-ended) online storefront that allows all manner of independent artists (and some of their studio counterparts) to make their songs downloadable, provided they take care of the developmental heavy lifting.

For more on the last few Rock Band outings, check out GameSpot's reviews of Rock Band 2, The Beatles: Rock Band, and Lego Rock Band.

237 Comments

  • lostlaser

    Posted Jun 8, 2010 2:38 pm GMT

    I'd like to see a few of Guitar Hero's gameplay innovations (orange ride cymbal, and open fret strumming) put into Rock Band 3. If Guitar Hero didn't look like it was animated by grade schoolers, I would consider owning it.

  • daman246

    Posted May 2, 2010 1:10 am GMT

    this game is a gotta get

  • iluvgames32

    Posted Mar 30, 2010 5:38 pm GMT

    wahh double comment

    @ slicedbread117
    well, Rock Band Network's out, and thats pretty much a music creator anyway. so... yea I'm sure it'll be supported with RB3

  • iluvgames32

    Posted Mar 30, 2010 5:35 pm GMT

    i'll be happy as long as Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Metallica (altho they won't be in due to licensing rights with Neversoft) and Nirvana XD.

  • RojoBear24

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 7:35 pm GMT

    Here's my top 10 Bands I wont to see. Love it or hate it, I don't care

    1. Pantera (Domination)
    2. A7X (The Wicked End)
    3. Judas Priest (Ram it Down)
    4. Bullet For My Valentine (Tears Don't Fall or 4 Words to Choke Upon)
    5. Suicidal Tendencies (Berserk! or I Saw Your Mommy)
    6. Slayer (Spirit in Black)
    7. Metallica (Phantom Lord or The Frayed Ends Of Sanity)
    8. W.A.S.P. (I Wanna Be Somebody)
    9. George Thorogood (One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer)
    10. Ozzy Osbourne (Perry Mason)

  • Trogeton

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 8:48 am GMT

    @ DionysusBurning People just say milking because gh was progressing a lot more than rb the only thing rb has is alot of dlc but you don't have to waste so much money on guitar hero just for a few extra songs.. cus if you think about it each song is like 160 ms points and if you add that up.. it's cheap to buy a new game than the same amount of song on dlc.. so guitar hero was being smart making so many games other than dlc.. people spent less money for more songs on guitar hero while rb spent a little more for a little less songs, and ghwt did not have a great setlist I agree, but that is the only guitar hero I thought was bad as far as songs.. but for rock band it was pointless making 1 and 2, they should have just made 2 because lego and beatles was garbage I owned both of those in less than 2 weeks.. I have the achievements to prove that, guitar was more difficult not all flash and no substance

  • MidniteShadow

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 7:40 am GMT

    Really looking forward to what Harmonix has in store for us with this new version, since the lead designer of Harmonix stated that he's trying to bring not only a fun experience, but a musical educational experience also, I better be seeing some real drum sets this time around HRMX!

  • DionysusBurning

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:37 pm GMT

    @Trogeton:
    Dude, you're talking about the dudes that started Guitar Hero. LMAO Harmonix started GH, left Activision, and started Rock Band. THEN, Activision decided to join in(making GH with other instruments besides guitar) because they saw how much money EA was making off it(Apparently they liked receiving money so much that they basically milked the series to boredom). Remember, Guitar Hero has the name, Rock Band's got the game. ps-I'm not being a 'fanboy' just stating facts...and besides, I bought GH: World Tour for some songs, and it just looks so boring, I can't even play it...

  • Lost_M

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:33 pm GMT

    I hope it has some good songs...Wolfmother, Jimi Hendrix, Foo Fighters...

  • AuronTsubaki85

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 12:12 pm GMT

    It's worth the wait.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:12 am GMT

    can't be to great of news..not even 500 comments yet.. wow it was a lot more popular when rb2 was getting released, guitar hero is still better so stop bringing it up.. lets not forget what game made it to guiness book of world records and has most units sold and didn't need xbox live to stay alive

  • GregSci

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:40 am GMT

    Now THIS is cool... but till holidays? that's waiting too much =(

  • Pete5506

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:59 am GMT

    Great news, ill be getting this

  • slicedbread117

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:57 pm GMT

    it would be sick if they added a music creator, just make it realistic unlike guitar heros....and also be able to record albums throughout world tour mode

  • theIDENTITYof

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:44 pm GMT

    @Ardrius What? Now I'M confused... :p i didn't get cymbals when i got the RB2 kit.... unless it was something extra... or something... :S dunn-knoe

  • Nivram045

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:18 pm GMT

    man i hope they add harmonies to rb3 it be cool to sing to it when u play a rhcp of queen song

  • SM71794

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:52 pm GMT

    This is great, I love Rock Band and its great to hear some news on its next title, I hope its going to be great! I honestly think it is better than Guitar Hero since it acts and looks more mature than Guitar Hero, but still this is great to hear! I am not excited!

  • BoondockSaint66

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:28 am GMT

    I think this is great news, and to the people complaining that the rhythm genre is oversaturated- you have Guitar Hero to take on most of that blame. They have like 10 different games per year, that's why the market feels so bloated. I'm a rock band fan and personally feel that their timing is spot on.

  • iucidium

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:03 am GMT

    @brunette guard: EMI (who 'own' abbey road) are in trouble at the mo and may have to sell, potentially this could hamper DLC. Also, why the thumbs down on my previous post: its fact - HMX actually thought about things right, bring out a major release then you CHOOSE whether to buy the DLC, ACT spred their good songs so peeps would buy a game for 10 decent tracks and 30+ tracks of padding. Also, everyone saying 'ugh, isn't it going stale?' It is on activisions side, but that's what you get when you release around 7 games in 12 months.

  • iucidium

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:03 am GMT

    @brunette guard: EMI (who 'own' abbey road) are in trouble at the mo and may have to sell, potentially this could hamper DLC. Also, why the thumbs down on my previous post: its fact - HMX actually thought about things right, bring out a major release then you CHOOSE whether to buy the DLC, ACT spred their good songs so peeps would buy a game for 10 decent tracks and 30+ tracks of padding. Also, everyone saying 'ugh, isn't it going stale?' It is on activisions side, but that's what you get when you release around 7 games in 12 months.

  • JoePiervincenti

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 10:40 am GMT

    To everyone who's complaining, as long as this and ANY genre that continues to MAKE MONEY does so, then they won't die. Just like Mario will never die. Expecting them to abandon a franchise that makes money is silly.

  • Get_Shorty

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 10:31 am GMT

    So start saving your money! ... brotha

  • THE-ZOZ

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 10:27 am GMT

    Time for new instrument in rb3. any ideas!!

  • BrunetteGuard07

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:41 am GMT

    I'm still waiting for Beatles dlc! Unless RB3 really does " innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again," there is likely no chance I will be picking it up. Getting bored of this genre.

  • whitetiger3521

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:05 am GMT

    Hopefully they come out with a guitar thats actually worth a damn this time.

  • UnknownPerson55

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:53 am GMT

    beat a genre until it dies

  • falcOWNS

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:35 am GMT

    hey u know whats something we shud all do? since we are all argueing about rb and gh, lets abandoned both of them and go play that crappy rip-off 3rd game that did horrible, rock revoultion that will get their attension. or better yet, lets go to REAL instruments

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:21 am GMT

    *facepalm*

    No offence, GH & RB fans.

  • toddx77

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:10 am GMT

    Anyone else think Activision is afraid now that they are releasing only 1 guitar hero game but 2 rock band games are coming out this year? I wouldn't be surprised if Activision changes their mind and releases guitar hero 6, band Hero 2, and guitar hero: bobby koticks picks just to compete lol.

  • Trogeton

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:45 am GMT

    yeah really rb should only be dlc from now on.. I mean that is what it pretty much is and always has been.. I mean look at how much waited money goes to that ripping off dlc, if they only made more games.. people would waste less money

  • DionysusBurning

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:32 am GMT

    Cool. Like others have stated, I hope that RB1, 2, and DLC can be exported to RB3. Obviously, I'd like to believe that RB Network will work with RB3 and it's just awesome. This is what they need, a well-thought series...obviously not Green Day. They need to cancel that one. They're going to turn into Guitar Hero if they keep that up. >.>;
    Also, if they'd put in individual Breakneck Speed that'd be awesome, 'cause not everyone likes to play with BNS on and people(guitarists/bassists) get upset when you don't turn it on...

  • JOem316

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:46 am GMT

    RB1 and RB2 track import needs to be INCLUDED with the price. No hidden fees or DLC costs.

    Otherwise, very excited. Love RB series.

  • truelove79

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:59 am GMT

    Egotte, agreed. Harmonix is the original, the developers are actual musicians who want people to love music as much as they do.

  • Egotte

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:48 am GMT

    Rock Band 2 is the absolute best in the rhythm genre to date. Expect the same, if not BETTER quality, from the third installment. Harmonix takes care in spreading out their release dates. This isn't Activision cranking out a new Guitar Hero every three months.

  • Hazzerz

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:04 am GMT

    @olfenite

    Jeez, when the hell did that happen
    Thanks m8

  • retroguy02

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:02 am GMT

    RB should only be DLC from now on

  • Thefatness16

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:59 am GMT

    yes

  • HaasRacing14 posted Mar 10, 2010 4:14 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    HaasRacing14

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:14 am GMT (hide)

    NO no no more gay music games please

  • SadPSPAddict

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:53 am GMT

    Another one? Thought this genre was going stale??

  • iucidium

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:59 am GMT

    @fidel sarcastro: fail! Rockband has released in 3 years what activision has Released in.....6 months. Why do you think ACT has resorted to only releasing 1 title this year - because their business model sucks, they saturated and fractured their own market lol! HMX has the right idea. And exporting DLC , cmon - it'll be a dead cert. It would be professional suicide not to.

  • the_antivirus

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 1:58 am GMT

    Cool!

  • jackdaniel594

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:24 am GMT

    woo aresome.. and why dont they hurry and and reveal more about GD rock band? ive been wanting its info heaps, sooo excited for it?

  • MidniteShadow

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:50 pm GMT

    OMG!!!! Wewt RB3 FTW! Likely songs will be transferable, they alrdy did it with Rb2 and it would be a market slump if they didnt allow it.

  • vuxnut

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:29 pm GMT

    This excites me. But only if i can transfer my old DLC. Pretty much like everyone else said.

  • putz_noodles

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:24 pm GMT

    pumped!!

  • DarthEthong467

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:18 pm GMT

    Revolutionize? It better be something that can teach me how to play a real guitar (like they previously stated they were going to do with Rock Band 3), I would pay for that.

  • RockToTheLed

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:17 pm GMT

    If I can't transfer all my dlc, I'll unleash a Godly firestorm.

  • MissMorphine

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:45 pm GMT

    hope i can Export all my DLC to RB3. or im gonna start throwing punches

  • thpghalo3

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:08 pm GMT

    finially!!! ive ben wating for this to be confirmed for a while now.

  • Death_Blade_182

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:03 pm GMT

    Haven't bought any music game since RB2 so yeah, these good news, and I'm confident Harmonix will come up with some awesome innovation.

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