A New Era of Rhythm Gaming

The nostalgic golden age of plastic-instrument rhythm games is making a comeback. The team behind the legendary Guitar Hero series has officially announced their spiritual successor, titled Stage Tour. Scheduled for release on December 10, the title promises to deliver a massive library of more than 90 officially licensed tracks spanning various rock and metal subgenres.


The Rising Tracklist

RedOctane Games, the new studio established by veterans of the original Guitar Hero project, has been teasing the community with snippets of the soundtrack. Recent announcements have confirmed a diverse set of high-energy songs, including:

  • Slipknot – "Psychosocial"
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – "Dani California"
  • Weezer – "Island in the Sun"
  • BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy – "RATATATA"
  • Rise Against – "Broken Dreams, Inc."
  • Static-X – "Terminator Oscillator"
  • Mammoth WVH – "The End"

While the full list remains under wraps, industry analysts have noted some surprising absences. As one music publication recently pointed out: «Interestingly, there's no mention of Van Halen yet, but Eddie's offspring, Wolfgang, is to feature with Mammoth's 'The End.' It's a song practically made for a game like this.»


Gibson Partnership and Platform Availability

The developers have secured a major partnership with Gibson, the iconic instrument manufacturer. The game will feature more than 180 authentic models from Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer as collectible gear. Furthermore, the virtual environment of the game is heavily inspired by the famous Gibson Garage in Nashville.


Looking Ahead

Following the conclusion of the Guitar Hero Live era in 2015, the genre saw a significant decline. However, the original development team has returned to revitalize the concept. According to reports, the team stresses that Stage Tour is an entirely fresh intellectual property rather than a direct sequel to previous titles like Rock Band or DJ Hero.

The title is currently available for pre-order and is slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.