UPDATE: Reports are coming in that layoffs have also hit the Activision-owned developer Vicarious Visions. Developer Manveer Heir tweeted this evening to say, "Ugh sorry to hear about the Vicarious Visions layoffs today after Guitar Hero canceled. Shitty. Sounds like Freestyle (DJ Hero) got hit too."
Eurogamer has contacted Vicarious Visions, which created the Wii version of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, for comment.
ORIGINAL STORY: Activision has hit DJ Hero developer Freestyle Games with severe layoffs and axed the Guitar Hero series, Eurogamer understands.
United Front's open world game True Crime has been cancelled, sources have told Eurogamer.
An announcement is expected tonight ahead of the publication of Activision's financial results.
In December last year Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said Guitar Hero, and the music genre, had a future following dismal sales of Warriors of Rock.
"It's no secret that not just Guitar Hero, but also Rock Band, and the music category in general, do not have the same mass appeal today that they did a few years ago," he said.
"That said, I think that we would be foolish to not try and build on the strength of the Guitar Hero brand, because as you said, it's a pretty strong brand with great recognition and great likeability, and there's a lot to work with there.
"I think the road to rejuvenating that category goes through innovation," he continued. "The premise of Guitar Hero - that everyone has an inner rock star - it's something that we've all done forever. Some version of singing into a hairbrush, or holding a tennis racket like a guitar, or singing karaoke, or singing into the bathroom mirror - we all do that.
"I think a lot of video game genres that have had tremendous staying power have a fantasy-fulfillment element at their core, whether it's driving the fast car, or participating in professional sports, or going into battle. People don't get to do this in everyday lives.
"So I think the core premise and the core insight at the heart of the Guitar Hero franchise is still very relevant. I just think we need to escalate the experience for people and innovate. I think the genre is still fairly new, and so I think it's probably time for us to really look at what the next level looks like for that genre."
The publisher had confirmed the return of the franchise in 2011.
Eurogamer's calls to UK developer Freestyle Games went unanswered this evening. United Front Games had not responded to Eurogamer's request for comment at the time of publication.[/p]
Source
The franchise was starting to turn stale TBH, but I wonder what EA will do with Rock Band now. I haven't heard anything about Rock Band 4, so maybe EA have cancelled that too. In a way it's a shame, in another way it's getting old. Activision's 1 year game cycle didn't help it at all though.
EDIT: Guitar Hero isn't dead, it's just taking a break. Proof below:
Source
Eurogamer has contacted Vicarious Visions, which created the Wii version of Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, for comment.
ORIGINAL STORY: Activision has hit DJ Hero developer Freestyle Games with severe layoffs and axed the Guitar Hero series, Eurogamer understands.
United Front's open world game True Crime has been cancelled, sources have told Eurogamer.
An announcement is expected tonight ahead of the publication of Activision's financial results.
In December last year Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said Guitar Hero, and the music genre, had a future following dismal sales of Warriors of Rock.
"It's no secret that not just Guitar Hero, but also Rock Band, and the music category in general, do not have the same mass appeal today that they did a few years ago," he said.
"That said, I think that we would be foolish to not try and build on the strength of the Guitar Hero brand, because as you said, it's a pretty strong brand with great recognition and great likeability, and there's a lot to work with there.
"I think the road to rejuvenating that category goes through innovation," he continued. "The premise of Guitar Hero - that everyone has an inner rock star - it's something that we've all done forever. Some version of singing into a hairbrush, or holding a tennis racket like a guitar, or singing karaoke, or singing into the bathroom mirror - we all do that.
"I think a lot of video game genres that have had tremendous staying power have a fantasy-fulfillment element at their core, whether it's driving the fast car, or participating in professional sports, or going into battle. People don't get to do this in everyday lives.
"So I think the core premise and the core insight at the heart of the Guitar Hero franchise is still very relevant. I just think we need to escalate the experience for people and innovate. I think the genre is still fairly new, and so I think it's probably time for us to really look at what the next level looks like for that genre."
The publisher had confirmed the return of the franchise in 2011.
Eurogamer's calls to UK developer Freestyle Games went unanswered this evening. United Front Games had not responded to Eurogamer's request for comment at the time of publication.[/p]
Source
The franchise was starting to turn stale TBH, but I wonder what EA will do with Rock Band now. I haven't heard anything about Rock Band 4, so maybe EA have cancelled that too. In a way it's a shame, in another way it's getting old. Activision's 1 year game cycle didn't help it at all though.
EDIT: Guitar Hero isn't dead, it's just taking a break. Proof below:
Twitter is exploding with “I heard Guitar Hero is dead” and “RIP Guitar Hero” and stuff like that. Seems a little dramatic from my understanding.
Here’s what actually happened: On today’s quarterly earnings call, Activision announced that the GH business division was been dissolved, and there’s no game in development for 2011. Having a dedicated division for GH made more sense when the music genre was bigger business; not so much now. Guitar Hero DLC development will continue and the existing games will be supported, but there’s no new game coming in 2011.
So, honestly…is that “death” or a much-needed break? For a while there I couldn’t drown out the cries of gamers on forums, blogs, and Twitter saying GH should take some time off, and from all appearances, that’s what this is. Step back, let it breathe for a while, don’t make any major plans, and see what happens in the future. I’m very okay with that.
Chapter closed? Sure, okay. Book burned? I doubt it.
Rock, as always, on.
Here’s what actually happened: On today’s quarterly earnings call, Activision announced that the GH business division was been dissolved, and there’s no game in development for 2011. Having a dedicated division for GH made more sense when the music genre was bigger business; not so much now. Guitar Hero DLC development will continue and the existing games will be supported, but there’s no new game coming in 2011.
So, honestly…is that “death” or a much-needed break? For a while there I couldn’t drown out the cries of gamers on forums, blogs, and Twitter saying GH should take some time off, and from all appearances, that’s what this is. Step back, let it breathe for a while, don’t make any major plans, and see what happens in the future. I’m very okay with that.
Chapter closed? Sure, okay. Book burned? I doubt it.
Rock, as always, on.
