Rock Band

A music video game series developed by Harmonix where players use instrument controllers to simulate performing songs.

Action

Simulation

Special edition

30

Games

2007–2015

Years

14

Platforms

$14.74

Ø CIB

-27.4%

24M change

About

The Rock Band series debuted in 2007 with the release of the original Rock Band and its Special Edition bundle, introducing cooperative multiplayer gameplay using guitar, bass, drums, and vocal controllers. Developed by Harmonix and published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, the franchise expanded in 2008 with releases on additional platforms. The series is highly regarded for its rhythm-matching gameplay and extensive library of downloadable music content.

Following the acquisition of Harmonix by MTV Networks, the developer pivoted from its previous work on the Guitar Hero franchise to design a more comprehensive band simulation. The initial launch of Rock Band (2007) on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 was accompanied by Rock Band [Special Edition] (2007), a premium retail bundle that packaged the software with the necessary instrument peripherals. This release was followed by ports of Rock Band (2008) to the PlayStation 2 and Wii, which adapted the core engine to accommodate the hardware limitations of those consoles, such as the omission of online multiplayer in the PlayStation 2 iteration.

In these titles, players score points by pressing fret buttons on guitar controllers, striking pads on the drum kit, or singing into a USB microphone to match pitch indicators. Successfully executing consecutive notes builds a score multiplier and fills an "Overdrive" meter, which players can deploy cooperatively to save failing bandmates. The foundation laid by the 2007 and 2008 iterations established a robust ecosystem, allowing players to export disc soundtracks into subsequent franchise releases and cementing the series' influence on the music game genre.