Guitar Hero is reportedly tuning up for an E3 2015 announcement

By Adam Rosenberg February 24, 2015

The player battles against other rockers in Guitar Hero. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Guitar Hero is reportedly poised to make a return at E3 2015, according to a Kotaku UK report attributed to a pair of unnamed sources at Activision. The new game, which is expected to surface for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles (if not others), is said to take a more realistic approach to presentation, with more lifelike crowds and performers. New guitar peripherals are said to be in development, and the release is expected to happen before the end of 2015.

Reached for comment, an Activision UK spokesperson told Kotaku that the publish doesn’t address rumor or speculation. The statement didn’t end there, however, as the spokesperson added: “…as one of the most beloved entertainment franchises, we would only bring Guitar Hero back if we developed the right innovations to usher the franchise into the new generation of gaming.” We reached out to our own Activision source here in North America and were directed to the UK comment.

Guitar Hero went on an extended hiatus in 2010 following the release of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. The shift came as rhythm game sales reached a low point, due in part to the ongoing recession and in part to the ubiquity of plastic instrument games.

Guitar Hero was embroiled in a years-long battle of the fake bands with the Rock Band series from Harmonix, and annual releases coupled with constantly refreshed and updated plastic instrument put too great a financial strain on keeping up with the latest and greatest. Supply quickly exceeded demand, and both Activision and Harmonix put their premiere rhythm game franchises on the shelf for a break.

Rumors of a Guitar Hero return follow closely on the heels of similar reports hinting at a Rock Band revival. Harmonix has yet to formally confirm anything, but numerous hints — some championed by Harmonix itself — suggest that something is happening in the not-too-distant future.

Addressing the rumor on Twitter, Harmonix spokesperson and karaoke superstar Nick Chester had this to say:

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