The gaming world is buzzing with excitement as RedOctane Games, the original creators of the legendary Guitar Hero franchise, has officially announced its return after a 15-year hiatus. Having sold over 25 million copies worldwide, Guitar Hero remains one of the most successful rhythm game series in history, and its loyal fanbase is eagerly anticipating what the revived studio has in store.

Founded in 1999 by brothers Kai and Charles Huang, RedOctane Games initially specialized in developing accessories for popular rhythm games. Their big breakthrough came in 2005 with the release of the first Guitar Hero, which revolutionized music gaming. Following the success of Guitar Hero 2 in 2006, Activision acquired the studio, leading to collaborations with Neversoft on subsequent titles. Unfortunately, Activision closed RedOctane's doors in 2010.

After 15 years of silence, RedOctane is back under the leadership of Simon Ebejer, a veteran who previously worked on Guitar Hero at Neversoft. The Huang brothers have also returned, serving on the company's "special advisory board." While fans might hope for a new Guitar Hero installment, the studio has confirmed in a blog post that their upcoming project will be an entirely new experience, as they no longer own the Guitar Hero IP.

Details about the new game remain scarce, but it's expected to be a rhythm game inspired by Guitar Hero. While peripherals aren't confirmed, RedOctane's expertise in hardware suggests they might play a role. With no official release date announced, fans will need to stay tuned for updates.

Despite the lack of new mainline Guitar Hero games since Guitar Hero Live in 2015, the franchise remains culturally relevant. Earlier this year, a Twitch streamer passed out while playing Through the Fire and Flames on Guitar Hero during an intense 200% speed challenge, reigniting interest in the series.

The franchise also made headlines when a Guitar Hero mobile ad created with AI angered fans, only for Activision to later reveal it was part of a market research campaign. With RedOctane’s return, fans are hopeful for an authentic rhythm game that captures the magic of Guitar Hero while offering something fresh.

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