Rock Band to return this year

After a five-year hiatus, Electronic Arts (aka EA Games) has confirmed the release of videogame Rock Band 4 for this year.

While full announcements won’t be made until May, US video game development company Harmonix, the developer behind Rock Band competitor Guitar Hero, is back in the fold and it will be created for new gaming consoles Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One.

In January, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI)axed its streaming service Music Unlimitedto partner with Spotify. The deal will see the launch ofPlayStation Music in 41 countries, including Australia, from March 29. In December last year internet radio giant Pandora launched its first app on Xbox One in the US, as part of a bundle which includes services from Vevo, Bravo Now, Telemundo Now and Popcornflix. AsTMNunderstands it,both Pandora and Spotify are not involved in the development of Rock Band 4.

Rock Band 4 Product Manager Daniel Sussman said Rock Band 4 won’t be marketed as a game: “Since the beginning, we’ve called Rock Band a music platform. Players responded by downloading hundreds of their favorite tracks, and building a massive library of playable music.

“It’s important for us to respect those purchases and enable our fans to bring that content over to the Rock Band platform on new generation consoles.”

Rock Band 4 will support over 500 rock artists and more than 2,000 tracks featured in previousRock Bandgameson top of what's included on disc – previously a new Rock Band game was released around one a year, sometimes using spin-off editions like The Beatles: Rock BandandGreen Day: Rock Band.

Tech and gaming websites have previously reported that Guitar Hero will also see a comeback this year after a five year hiatus.