🔗 Share this article

Marking two decades after the legendary game hit the market in North America, offering players everywhere the opportunity to become rock legends. Not in reality, but try convincing anyone who has nailed Free Bird’s lengthy guitar solo before an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Developed by Harmonix, the game provided users with a plastic guitar peripheral to match coloured notes moving along the display synchronized to the music. Every sequence corresponded to specific notes, creating the feel of a genuine live show.

The studio previously tried its hand with rhythm games before partnering with the publisher, later purchased by Activision in 2006. Collaboratively, they established the foundations for a surprising billion-dollar series that had a remarkable impact for many musicians featured, introducing classic bands to a new generation of gaming enthusiasts.

A former executive, former COO of Harmonix, remembers the initial budgetary hurdles in securing the recordings – despite the fact the first two games mostly used cover versions.

“We reproduced every song since the dollar figure prohibitive,” he says. “Despite having the necessary permissions by themselves, it proved extremely difficult. We failed to secure acts such as the Who – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and our team was fairly certain the project would flop. But once Guitar Hero became a hit, and record sales and radio play were going up, everyone wanted to be in.”

He adds: “Among the amazing things was how many parents reached out and thanked us for introducing their kids to the songs they loved. It became a multigenerational thing.”

Timeless Music Gains Younger Fans

Northern Irish group one featured act included Never Too Late on the 2008 game Guitar Hero World Tour. Guitarist Paul Mahon remembers the way the game brought older hits back into vogue: “The game offered a bigger, younger audience. Generally such music was seen as music that was past it, however once it got featured on the game and teenagers discovered it, abruptly it became trendy. That legitimised the genre, and got rid of the outdated tag. It provided all our music a new life.”

In 2008, the band's first record remained not available stateside, meaning the game served as a primary platform for exposure for the band during their US tour opening for AC/DC. “Their crew were playing the song during travel, and several recognized us from Guitar Hero,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Spin-offs and Lasting Impact

Music's heavyweight names soon capitalised on the game's success, with Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen featuring in dedicated game editions that focused on each band’s catalogue and associated lore, imagery and legendary status. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly to have made the group more money compared to their records. It moved well over half a million units upon release, while sales of their songs saw an increase significantly during an era when the music business faced decline.

The series still motivates quick-handed fanaticism among its fans. Recently, an online personality completed a remarkable feat of DragonForce’s Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough anthem popularized through Guitar Hero – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with similar mechanics and extensive customisation options. This track is difficult even in expert mode, not to mention performed at double speed while hitting every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer stated it took nine months of practice.

“The game offers a, imaginary experience. If you play Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to pick up a real gun and go to war,” notes musician Herman Li.

The band previously wrapped up a profitable run before their hit appeared in the third game, yet he explains it turned them into widely recognized. “I remember our distributors calling to tell me that our selling albums like crazy,” he shares. “Popularity surged on the subsequent tour, and we were playing right ahead of top acts at the event.”

In fact, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero was so immense that it has risked overshadow all other accomplishments. Last year, the track featured in promotional material for Despicable Me 4. “In the past I thought otherwise, but I’ve made peace with it,” Li says. “If you only hear a single track, that's fine – each person has a unique path in music and I'm pleased we played a role of people’s lives”.

Enduring Legacy from the Iconic Controller

Top-tier marketing, whether it’s for cars, clothes or video games, extends beyond mere transactions – it evokes a desire. Was the game able to harness this? “That’s exactly what we were aiming to achieve,” Dornbrook says. “The excitement of being a rock star on the stage. Since the beginning, the co-founders felt that humans have a natural urge to create songs, and they wanted to leverage innovation to enable everyone to do it”.

The majority of Guitar Hero games came out over a mere five-year period between 2005 and 2010, including spin-offs such as DJ Hero, complete with a spinning deck, and the band-focused game. Subsequently, the publisher’s interest on peripherals died down, aside from a brief comeback several years later.

Games like the fan project and Fortnite Festival have kept the scene alive, with expectations of a new product from the original publisher on the way. A new studio has entered work on their first music game. The initial creators are participating in advisory roles. Are gamers ready to embrace a new entry in the spirit of the classic?

“Our team believed those games could be like Madden allowing annual releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks that it could be perennially popular, so I’ve always been optimistic. There’s no reason why it can’t persist with new generations.”