Summary

  • The first promo image for the upcoming Guitar Hero Mobile title features AI-generated art.
  • The last main entry in the Guitar Hero franchise was released in 2015.
  • While many are excited for the series to return in some capacity, many are frustrated by Activision's use of AI.

Activision has officially announced Guitar Hero Mobile, but fans quickly noticed that the game's promotional image features AI-generated art. While Guitar Hero fans have been anxiously awaiting a new title in the rhythm game series for years, the use of artificial intelligence to market the new title has soured what should have been an exciting reveal.

First released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Guitar Hero quickly became a gaming phenomenon, with players tasked with pressing the correct keys on a guitar-shaped controller at the right time during a song to complete each level. It didn't take long for the game's popularity to skyrocket, with many sequels and expansions released over the past two decades. In 2024, Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer commented on Guitar Hero, lamenting his choice to pass up the opportunity for Xbox to publish the series. Years have passed since the last entry in the franchise, but it looks like players will soon be able to rock out to some new tunes. Unfortunately, the game's publisher may have botched the good news.

guitar hero streamer passes out
Twitch Streamer Passes Out While Playing Guitar Hero

A Twitch streamer pits themselves against an intense Guitar Hero challenge and while reacting to the outcome, suddenly loses consciousness.

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Fans were excited to see the announcement for Guitar Hero Mobile when it was posted to Activision's Instagram account on February 28, but it didn't take long for many to notice a particularly glaring issue with the promo image. The announcement clearly features AI-generated art, and many franchise fans pointed this out in the comments, with some expressing disappointment for the decision and others promising not to buy the game when it launches. "The note tracks aren't even the right color, and there are multiple colors mixed on the same track," user bennicus wrote. "Shows how much effort went into this when you can't even get your own game right." Despite this, the return of the series on mobile devices did resonate with some users, though a full Guitar Hero remake doesn't seem to be in the cards at this point.

Guitar Hero Mobile Announcement Features AI-Generated Art

Several Guitar Hero Mobile titles have been released in the past, including those for the once ubiquitous BlackBerry line of devices. Guitar Hero 3 Mobile was particularly popular following its release in 2007, with the game downloaded by over 2.5 million users during its run. Unfortunately, the last main title, Guitar Hero Live, was released in 2015 and was met with mixed reception, with many disappointed by the game's soundtrack and lack of multiplayer.

While Guitar Hero hasn't seen a major release in a decade, there are plenty of addictive rhythm games to fill the space left behind by the series, with titles like Rift of the NecroDancer and Clone Hero finding immense popularity. It's unclear whether the upcoming Guitar Hero Mobile entry will be well-received at launch, but fans are hoping that the title will be more polished than its first piece of promotional material.

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Activision
Activision
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Date Founded
October 1, 1979
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California, United States
CEO
Bobby Kotick
Parent Company
activision blizzard
Subsidiaries
Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Beenox, Demonware
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