The genre of plastic guitars and virtual band performances is celebrating its official resurrection. As part of Gamescom, developer RedOctane Games (founded by the creators of the original Guitar Hero series) has officially confirmed the release date for its spiritual sequel, Stage Tour. The game will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series on December 10, 2026
Stage Tour sees itself as a complete evolution of the classic rhythm game, and relies on a five-button highway system. In addition to lead guitar, bass or groove tracks, drums and vocals, you also have four- and five-track arcade modes for keyboard or gaming pads.
One of the core features of the game is the newly developed tour mode. The game variant is a Roguelite structure, with each run of your band offering new randomized challenges, event selections, and unlocks.
You can form your own band with over 50 optional band members and perform together in local and cross-platform online multiplayer co-op. The set also includes more than 180 collectible licensed instruments from brands such as Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer.
The game launches on December 10, 2026 and features over 90 licensed tracks. RedOctane has officially confirmed the following songs for the playlist:
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Metallica – Puppet Master
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The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black
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Red Hot Chili Peppers – Can’t Stop
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Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4u
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Blink-182 – All the little things
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Paramore – The Cause of Misery
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Slipknot – Psychosocial
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muse-hysteria
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Green Day – Basket Box
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Spitfire – Everlong
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Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
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Pearl Jam – alive
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Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
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Down Jacket System – Chop Suey!
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Rage against the machine – killing in the name
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Audioslave – like a stone
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Killer – Mr. Brightside
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Radiohead – Creep
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Sound Garden – Black Hole Sun
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Sevenfold Vengeance – Hail to the King
RedOctane announced that Stage Tour’s track list will continue to expand through regular live service updates and subsequent DLC packs after its official launch in December.
An important element of this comeback is the official partnership with traditional manufacturer Gibson Brands. The new guitar controller is based on a licensed model from the Kramer brand, manufactured by Gibson.
The hardware is said to feature significantly improved mechanics, including precision microswitches on the frets and a more durable pick lever system. Additionally, in-game you can choose from over 180 digitally recreated instruments from Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer to intuitively equip your orchestra.
