Guitar Hero
News, coverage and analysis tracking Guitar Hero across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Weekend Discussion - October 24, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including a serious note on rights and safety, the Angry Video Game Nerd's exploration of Maniac Mansion, and personal gaming experiences from Grand POOBear and Maximilian. The article also touches on music and encourages reader engagement.
Weekend Discussion - October 10, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from October 10, 2026, covers various topics including upcoming Twisted Metal shorts, Marvel Television news from New York Comic-Con, and music from The Offspring. The author, Ozzie, shares his personal gaming history and preferences, emphasizing his love for platformers, puzzle games, shooters, RPGs, and compelling narratives.
Weekend Discussion - October 3, 2026
This Weekend Discussion post from Shacknews covers various topics including a Raul Julia documentary, a conversation with Nick Offerman about tech, a discussion on piracy with Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and a segment on Conan O'Brien. It also features music from Bruno Mars and encourages reader engagement via comments and Discord.
A love letter to the Guitar Hero X-Plorer Controller
This article is a nostalgic look back at the RedOctane X-Plorer controller for Guitar Hero, celebrating its upcoming 20th anniversary. The author reflects on personal memories associated with the controller, highlighting its durability and superior feel compared to newer models, despite some minor wear and tear.
Weekend Discussion - September 26, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from Shacknews features staff writer Ozzie sharing his personal gaming experiences and preferences. He discusses his history with games, his work in QA for THQ and Activision on the Guitar Hero series, and his enjoyment of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, RPGs, and games with strong narratives. The article also includes a brief mention of a documentary about cruise ships and a look back at Puzzle Kombat.
We played the Guitar Hero-inspired Stage Tour, here are our thoughts
The new rhythm game Stage Tour, inspired by Guitar Hero and featuring original developers from the series, offers a fun and responsive experience. Players can expect a diverse setlist including tracks from Weezer, Mötley Crüe, and Babymetal, with a tactile guitar peripheral that enhances gameplay.
Attention music fans - the CRKD Les Paul guitar controller works with Stage Tour, and it just got a record-low discount…
The CRKD Gibson Les Paul guitar controller, compatible with the upcoming music game Stage Tour, is currently available at a discounted price of $74.99 on Woot, down from its usual $124.99. This deal offers a significant saving compared to official alternatives and is compatible with both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Weekend Discussion - September 19, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from September 19, 2026, touches on various topics including the game Road Runner's Death Valley Rally, a potentially game-breaking experience for the Angry Video Game Nerd, and a segment on language evolution. It also features musical recommendations and encourages reader engagement via Shacknews Chatty and Discord.
Valve's Steam Frame is available for pre-order, starts at $1,059 USD
Valve has opened pre-orders for its new VR peripheral, the Steam Frame, starting at $1,059 USD for the 256GB model and $1,299 USD for the 1TB model. The headset features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 16GB RAM, and runs SteamOS 3, functioning as a full PC. The launch was impacted by ongoing hardware shortages.
Weekend Discussion - September 12, 2026
This weekend discussion post from September 12, 2026, covers various topics including a conversation with Matt Groening about The Simpsons' future predictions, a new card game based on Dangeresque, Lobo movie scenes, fighting game art, and music from Kings of Leon. The author also shares personal gaming interests, including platformers, puzzle games, shooters, RPGs, and compelling narratives.
30 years later, I finally got to play Quake on the PS1, but that's before I found a better version that doesn't rely on "substantial AI assistance"
The author explores playing Quake on the PlayStation 1, initially finding a promising homebrew demo that unfortunately relies on AI assistance. While the demo includes other impressive PS1 projects, the author expresses a preference for the older, non-AI QuakePSX port due to its mouse support and perceived better performance, despite the overall limitations of playing Quake on the original PlayStation.
Stage Tour keeps the plastic instrument era alive
Stage Tour is a new rhythm game from RedOctane Games, developed by veterans of the plastic instrument era including Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The game aims to recapture the magic of those titles with familiar mechanics and controller support, while also offering compatibility with legacy hardware and new peripherals. Stage Tour is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on December 10.
I'm excited for Stage Tour, but Rock Band 4 will take a lot to beat
Rock Band 4 remains the last active title from the plastic-instrument rhythm game era, a decade after its release. Despite challenges with peripheral availability and music licensing, the game continues to receive weekly track additions and maintain an active online community. While Fortnite Festival offers a new Harmonix experience, it does not fully replace the legacy or song library of Rock Band 4.
Weekend Discussion - August 29, 2026
This Weekend Discussion article from Shacknews covers various topics including Marvel Comics, a podcast co-hosted by Ms. Marvel, an interview with John Cena, and a look back at Wolverine's moments from X-Men '97. The author, Ozzie, shares his personal gaming history and preferences, highlighting his experience in QA for THQ and Activision, particularly with the Guitar Hero series, and his enjoyment of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, RPGs, and games with strong narratives.
Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?
Shacknews staff members shared their favorite reveals from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026. Highlights included Stage Tour, LEGO Skylines, Mega Man Dual Override, The Witcher 3 Remastered, and Rainbow Six Tactics. Several staff members expressed particular excitement for LEGO Skylines, a new city-building game from Paradox Interactive.
Our favourite stories of the week: GTA 6 finally shows its hand, a Cyberpunk C64 and Alien Breed returns
This week's gaming news highlights include the highly anticipated extended trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, showcasing gameplay footage on PlayStation 5. Other notable stories include the return of Alien Breed with a 35th Anniversary Collection, Atari resurrecting classic Activision games as physical cartridges, and a unique Cyberpunk 2077-themed Commodore 64 computer. Additionally, The Witcher 3 is receiving a remaster and new expansion, while the first-person shooter Bodycam is praised for its innovative approach to core mechanics.
Weekend Discussion - August 22, 2026
This weekend discussion from Shacknews covers various topics including a mention of Anthony Bourdain, an interview with Gillian Anderson about The X-Files, and a segment with Elyse and Nikole from Won't You Be My Gamer? at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The article also includes a note about Shacknews's policy against using generative AI in its content and a personal anecdote from an employee about their gaming history.
Weekend Discusssion - August 15, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various entertainment topics including the perceived fate of The Avengers, the new Vision series, and the return of Thrawn in Star Wars. It also briefly mentions Camp Rock 3 and includes a personal anecdote from staff writer Ozzie about his gaming history and preferences.
Weekend Discussion - August 1, 2026
This weekend discussion article from Shacknews covers various topics including movies like Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and wrestling news about Rey Mysterio. It also touches on the author's personal gaming history, including work at THQ and Activision on the Guitar Hero series, and expresses a preference for platformers, puzzle games, shooters, RPGs, and games with strong narratives. The article encourages reader engagement through their comment thread and Discord server.
I minispelens förlovade Nintendo-land
This article reflects on the legacy of Nintendo's minigame-focused titles, highlighting WarioWare's 20th anniversary and the innovative Rhythm Tengoku series. It also discusses the artistic and design principles behind the bit Generations series, emphasizing their influence on modern minimalist games and their timeless appeal.
