The original core development team that created the classic music rhythm game "Guitar Hero" announced earlier that it would establish a new independent game studio.RedOctane Games, focusing on the innovation and development of rhythm games, it is expected to release its first new work by the end of 2025, redefining the interactive experience between players and music.
The RedOctane brand was first founded in California, USA in 1999. It originally focused on peripheral hardware development, and later collaborated with Harmonix to launch the classic music rhythm game series "Guitar Hero", which successfully set off a trend in home console music games.
The RedOctane brand disappeared from the market after it was acquired by Activision in 2006 and closed in 2010. Now, thanks to the collaboration between veteran developers and a new generation of creators, the RedOctane brand has returned with a fresh look.
The newly founded RedOctane Games is led by Simon Ebejer, former production director of the Guitar Hero series. Previously, he served as Head of Development at Neversoft, Studio Head of Vicarious Visions, and Vice President of Operations at Blizzard Entertainment, where he was involved in the development of Diablo IV. In his return to the rhythm game genre, Ebejer emphasized his commitment to combining "traditional spirit with innovative vision" to create a future-oriented interactive music experience.
The RedOctane Games team not only includes the original "Guitar Hero" and "DJ Hero" development team members, but also invited cutting-edge developers and community representatives from the modern rhythm game circle. They established "player co-creation" as their core development concept and worked closely with the global music game community from the early stages of planning to create a new experience that truly meets the needs of players.
Charles Huang and Kai Huang, the Taiwanese brothers behind Guitar Hero, will join the advisory team, providing RedOctane Games with their expertise in brand and product strategy. The two brothers worked together to establish the RedOctane brand, establishing music games in the mainstream market and profoundly impacting the entire gaming industry.
Simon Ebejer said: "Rhythm games are more than just a test of skill; they're about connecting with music and people. RedOctane Games is our tribute to this genre, and also the beginning of pushing it forward. We want to create a brand new gaming experience that allows players to truly immerse themselves in rhythm and creativity."
Currently, RedOctane Games is affiliated with Freemode, a subsidiary of Embracer Group. Its first work has entered the development stage and more details are expected to be revealed by the end of 2025.
