The Big Question: Can You Play Guitar Hero on PS5?
For anyone who spent hours mastering solos on a plastic guitar, the question of a Guitar Hero comeback on the PS5 is a big one. If you’re hoping to find a brand-new, dedicated Guitar Hero title for the PlayStation 5, the straightforward answer is that one doesn’t exist right now.
But that’s not the end of the story. Thanks to the PS5’s backward compatibility, you can technically fire up the last game in the series, the PlayStation 4 version of Guitar Hero Live. It lets you play on the new hardware, but the experience comes with some major catches.
The Reality of Playing Guitar Hero Live on PS5
Getting Guitar Hero Live to run on a PS5 is one thing, but enjoying it is another. The game was built around its online service, GHTV, which offered a massive, ever-changing library of music videos to play along with.
That service was shut down years ago, taking almost all the game’s content with it. Anyone playing today is left with only the handful of songs on the disc’s career mode. It’s a fun but brief trip down memory lane, not the endless encore it once was.
Your Gear: Will Your Old Guitar Controllers Work?
Even if you’re okay with the limited song list, there’s the hardware to consider. Guitar Hero Live introduced a completely new six-button guitar layout, making all the classic five-button controllers obsolete. Only the specific Live controller for PS4 will work.
Looking for a modern alternative? New peripherals like the PDP Riffmaster have arrived, but they’re built for the current generation of games. They won’t work with Guitar Hero Live, but they are your ticket to playing newer titles like Fortnite Festival and Rock Band 4.
Rock On with These Top Guitar Hero Alternatives on PS5
So, if Guitar Hero Live is a ghost of its past, where can you get your rhythm game fix? Thankfully, the PS5 has some fantastic alternatives that keep the spirit of rock and roll alive.
Fortnite Festival
Epic Games has stepped onto the stage with Fortnite Festival, a free-to-play rhythm game inside the world of Fortnite. It’s widely considered the true spiritual successor to the genre, offering a polished experience and a steady stream of new hit songs.
It fully supports modern guitar controllers, capturing that classic feeling of nailing a tough solo. With constant updates and a huge community, it’s the most vibrant and active rhythm game you can jump into today.
Rock Band 4
If you’re looking for the full band experience, Rock Band 4 is still the king. The PS4 game and its mountain of DLC are fully backward-compatible on the PS5. This means thousands of songs are available if you’re ready to assemble the crew.
The biggest challenge is finding the instruments. Original Rock Band gear is hard to come by, but if you have it, the game provides the most complete and authentic band simulation on the console.
A Glimmer of Hope: The Future of Rhythm Games
While the Guitar Hero brand remains dormant, the pulse of the rhythm genre is getting stronger. In an exciting twist, RedOctane, the original publisher that first unleashed Guitar Hero on the world, has been brought back to life.
The new RedOctane is already working on a new rhythm title. They’ve been clear that it isn’t a new Guitar Hero game, but their return alone proves that the industry is ready to invest in the genre once more. It’s a sign of good things to come.
The Final Encore: What’s the Verdict on Guitar Hero PS5?
In the end, you can’t truly relive the glory days of Guitar Hero on a PS5. The only option is a heavily compromised version of Guitar Hero Live that feels more like a demo than a full game.
But the stage is far from empty. Modern hits like Fortnite Festival and the timeless Rock Band 4 offer incredible experiences for anyone eager to shred. The rhythm game genre isn’t dead; it’s just evolving, and the future sounds fantastic.
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