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Rock Band 3 adds keyboard and real guitars

Those old enough to remember the days of overblown prog rock rejoice: the next sequel to Rock Band will include a 25-key piano and a replica Squier St

Those old enough to remember the days of overblown prog rock rejoice: the next sequel to Rock Band will include a 25-key piano and a replica Squier Stratocaster guitar, developer Harmonix has revealed. Sadly, the hoped-for keytar mooted when the rumour first emerged, is nowhere to be seen.

The new keyboard peripheral isn’t just a toy – it can be plugged into computers to become a fully functional MIDI keyboard. The guitar is also closer to the real thing than ever before, with six strings to sort the axe-slinging wheat from the chaff.

Details of the game’s tracklisting have also trickled through. Expect treats from the likes of The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Them Crooked Vultures, as well as the chance to pretend to be Brian May and play Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

There will also be a new pro mode, which will teach players the ropes of rocking out on a real guitar, instead of tapping plastic buttons.

Despite eye-boggling sales figures of rhythm action games in the past, the genre has seen a 50% decrease in plastic peripheral buying, so it’s no surprise to see Harmonix edging closer to realism in a bid to stay relevant.

Expect a release this Christmas.

Profile image of Dan Grabham Dan Grabham Editor-in-Chief

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website.  Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Areas of expertise

Computing, mobile, audio, smart home

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