RedOctane, developers behind the legendary Guitar Hero series, revealed more information today on their new upcoming rhythm game, Stage Tour, including a setlist for the closed alpha, details on the Campaign Mode, and more.
Read below for the full press release:
LIVERMORE, Calif. – June 07, 2026 - Rhythm gaming is getting loud again.
RedOctane Games has unveiled its latest trailer for Stage Tour during IGN Live 2026, offering the most revealing look yet at the upcoming 5-fret rhythm game built around music, performance, community, and the shared energy of playing together.
The new Developer Spotlight Trailer gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at a game still actively being built, refined, and shaped with input from the rhythm game community. The studio also confirmed that Stage Tour is officially coming to PC and major consoles, with much more music, gameplay, and platform news planned for later this summer and the road to launch.
WATCH DEVELOPER SPOTLIGHT TRAILER
Featuring insights from the developers, creators, and collaborators helping shape the project, the trailer highlights the fan-first passion, ambition, and scale behind Stage Tour. The team brings together veteran rhythm game developers, community developers, creators, players, and 5-fret fans who have helped keep the genre alive and evolving, alongside co-development partners Eidos-Montréal and Third Kind Games. The project includes contributors from iconic franchises including Guitar Hero® and DJ Hero® , as well as key members of the core development team behind the community-led rhythm game YARG.
“What makes this team so unique is that we've brought together passionate community developers, creators, players, and veteran rhythm game developers who understand why this genre matters,” said Simon Ebejer, Studio Head at RedOctane Games. “We believe that combination gives us the greatest opportunity to deliver the experience fans have been waiting for.”
Stage Tour is built to bring people together through the power of music, whether players are performing solo, rocking out with friends online, or turning their living room into a virtual concert experience. Inspired by social energy, competition, and unforgettable moments that made rhythm games a worldwide phenomenon, Stage Tour aims to deliver an experience that is accessible, exciting, and rewarding for players of all skill levels.
Players can jump in with guitar, drums, vocals, keyboard, or a standard controller, making it easy for first-time players to join in while giving longtime rhythm game fans the dedicated instrument experience they love.
The new trailer also teased Stage Tour's flagship Campaign Mode, a fresh progression-driven take on the rhythm genre inspired by modern roguelites. Each campaign run will have different setlists, challenges, gameplay modifiers, and branching paths. Picking the right powers and items for your loadout is the key to a successful tour. This mode is built around giving players unique and endlessly replayable experiences.
Alongside Campaign Mode, players will also be able to jump instantly into songs through Quickplay, sharpen their skills with Practice Mode, and test their mastery in Judgements Mode, built for players chasing perfection.
An Early Taste of the Soundtrack
Nothing brings people together like a killer soundtrack, and Stage Tour is turning the volume all the way up. Built to celebrate generations of music fans, the game's officially licensed setlist blends iconic rock anthems with modern global hits spanning rock, metal, alt-rock, pop-punk, and beyond. Announced today, RedOctane Games revealed the seven songs featured in the game's closed alpha and playable at IGN Live:
- "RATATATA" by Babymetal & Electric Callboy
- "Get the Funk Out" by Extreme
- "Square Hammer" by Ghost
- "Mimi's Delivery Service" by Good Kid
- "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Terminator Oscillator" by Static-X
- "Island in the Sun" by Weezer
The closed alpha setlist is only an early taste of the broader Stage Tour soundtrack, bringing together artists and songs built to feel great in players' hands, whether someone is chasing a perfect run, playing casually with friends, or discovering a new favorite track.
Additional setlist reveals, gameplay details, and major announcements will be shared later this summer and in the months leading up to launch.
The community continues to help shape Stage Tour, with the RedOctane team actively refining and evolving the gameplay experience based on ongoing feedback. While the game remains a work in progress, the studio confirmed that continued polish and iteration remain a major priority.
Built for the Stage
No rock show is complete without the gear to back it up, and Stage Tour is arriving with a purpose-built hardware lineup led by an official guitar controller created in partnership with Kramer guitars, part of the Gibson family of brands.
For drummers, Stage Tour will launch alongside an official modular drum kit featuring expandable attachments that allow players to build out their setup over time, while vocalists will be able to jump in using both wired and wireless microphone options.
The multi-year partnership between Gibson and RedOctane Games goes far beyond hardware. Iconic instruments from Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer will be brought to life within Stage Tour, giving players the chance to perform with some of the most legendary guitars in rock history. The experience is further elevated by an officially inspired in-game hub modeled after the world-renowned Gibson Garage Nashville flagship store—an immersive destination in the heart of Music City, USA, designed as a vibrant gathering place where music, creativity, and the energy of live performance come together.
"You're about to enter a world shaped by some of the most iconic guitars of all time," said Mark Agnesi, Gibson Director of Brand Experience. "Not only is it going to be fun, it may just be the spark to get you to pick up your first guitar."
Building on that vision, Stage Tour has been designed to be more than a collection of songs. Whether playing on smaller stages or in massive arenas, players will be able to build and customize their band from a diverse roster of bandmates with distinct personalities, styles, and identities, allowing every band to feel uniquely their own.
Attendees at IGN Live 2026 have the exclusive opportunity to go hands-on with Stage Tour through the game's current early closed alpha build. The demo is showcased on custom-built arcade machines created in collaboration with Paradox Arcades, built to bring Stage Tour to live events throughout 2026.
Players interested in participating in future testing phases can sign up for updates at stagetour.com.
Stage Tour is in active development and expected to release Holiday 2026 on PC and consoles. Official console platform announcements will follow in the coming months.
Wishlist Stage Tour on Steam: https://stgame.io/wishlist
Sign up for updates at: https://stagetour.com
Follow Stage Tour on all socials: https://stgame.io/socials
