Rigopolous: No Rock Band 3 in 2009

Yesterday, during a keynote speech at Billboard's "Digital Music Live," conference, Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopolous (center-right) revealed the developer will not release a sequel to Rock Band 2 in 2009.

"We've actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year," Rigopolous announced at the conference. The Harmonix CEO cited a partial reason for decision was because, "annual cycles place limits on the choices [a developer] can make" and Harmonix would like to think long-term with its music platform.

According to Crispy Gamer, when asked about EA's reaction to the promise of not releasing Rock Band 3 this year, Rigopolous confirmed they were understanding of the decision. "They know how important this series is and they're willing to give it the time it needs," he said.

Currently, Harmonix is hard at work developing a new title based on The Beatles catalog of music and indicated with that license sewn-up, the developer would like to work on bringing Led Zeppelin into the genre, in the future.

[Thanks, Patrick Y.]

Reader Comments (27)

They are of course going to be releasing the Beatles Rock Band game or Experience or whatever and that will allow you to use your rock band 1 Disc Content, and RB2 and the DLC, come on, That is RB3 as a matter of fact.

None of what you just said is even rumored to be true.

No its not, im stating a reason i feel why it would not happen, They will release a different "Rock Band" Themed game for 09 that is not RB and then drop RB3 the next year. This way they can still drop a game for the 09 year, even though they dont have to they can just keep dropping DLC.

The Beatles Game =/= Rock Band

Completely different.

Mr. Emirabal, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

U are quite welcome, if i were to take your comment as literally as you made it i would have slit my wrsits, i thought i corrected my ramblings but if it must persist then so be it. I know the beatles game is not a rock band game, and from the article it states that RB3 wont be released in 09, all i was stating (and i thought i corrected myself) was that it would make sense not to release RB3 in 09 if (and maybe thats what i missed in the previous comment i made) they plan on releasing a beatles game in 09, i was being optimistic about using DLC from RB and also using songs from RB1 and RB2 for the game (again being optimistic).

I dont even know if (Like Xav said) the beatles game will be anything like rock band. but a gamer can dream cant he. thank you all once again, but continue wither way with the rants and flames against me. it makes the day go quicker at work.

Same here, that's why I do it... Keeps me out of trouble.

I would buy a stand alone Led Zeppelin game.

We come from the land of the ice and snow,
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying:
Valhalla, I am coming!

Just make sure there's no Stairway.

I'll second that.

No Stairway?! Denied!

lol Zeppelin will never be in a game...

Goes against their whole attitude towards music that they have demonstrated in the past

Never say never, they let Immigrant Song be used in School of Rock.

Hmm that is true...
I remember being shocked at the time lol
Never would have happened if Grant was still around ;)

thank god! I think for now Rock Band 2 is good enough. I would like them to add some new updates to the title but other than that, I'm sick of seeing music games that are exactly the same with a couple of extra features.

Yeah Activision could learn a lot from them.

I have a suggestion for them (if in RB3 or update to RB2), I would really like to see a lock feature where the consumer may lock songs out from being played/choosen in the game (including the off-line band mode, which the kids love). I thought this was to be a family game; however, some of the songs on there I absolutely hate and it's now gotten to the point with the kids that I am seriously considering putting this game on the "banned" list we have going in our house. That would also mean no more DLC, Harmonix, which is why I am hoping it will come in a patch.

It's a T-rated game. It states "Lyrics" right there on the box. You may have thought that it's appropriate for kids, but that's your mistake and HMX shouldn't have to spend time and resources dumbing down the game because you can't or won't read.

That doesn't seem like an unreasonable request, there are some pretty horrendous songs in Rock Band 1 and 2 I'd block if I could (not for language but for sheer terribleness).

If I had kids I'd get Guitar Praise, even though I am an atheist. But the song locking idea is good.

@sunelcrsis

By your own theory, then maybe pre-teens shouldn't be allowed to game at all. As a gamer you ought to know that most games are rated T or higher and yes they disclose these things on the box, but, again as a gamer you ought to know, that what is written on the box can be very useless until you open it up and get into the game. So are you suggesting that all pre-teens should not be allowed to game? Most pre-teens aren't interested in the E games as "...they are too childish" according to them.

I still don't understand why I can't pick a custom setlist in any venue in Band World Tour mode, with as many songs as I want. It seems strange not to have such an option.

This is good news. Expected, though still welcome. I would rather they focus on DLC than a new iteration. Some people have pulled out calculators and gone it's cheaper per song for a new game, but they ignore the most important part is they release songs which might not make it on disc but they will as part of a song pack.

Plus the weekly fun of the wailing and gnashing of teeth when people don't get their favourite band or get their favourite band but not the songs they like, or they get the song they like but not the version they prefer.

wow, a led zep game would be SO FUCKING GOOD

the beatles game sounds cool but does it seem a little bit like gh aerosmith to anyone?? harmonix also said they were LOOKING into zeppelin for a game further down the road. but who needs rb3 so soon when im sure alot of people havent played half of the dlc for rb2. releasing to many rock band games too soon would potentially lose money for harmonix because people wouldnt buy all the dlc. but if you have over a year to download stuff they are making more money in the long run. i just hope this game is better then gh aerosmith(game sucked)

all I need is new dlc every week and i'm set for life ^.^

Rigopolous: No Rock Band 3 in 2009

Reader Comments (27)

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 1:09PM emirabal said

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 1:18PM Lickity Spit said

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 1:26PM emirabal said

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 1:30PM Xav de Matos said

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 2:19PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 8th 2009 2:39PM emirabal said

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