Have you been missing games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero? It’s time to dust off your plastic axes and warm up your vocal cords; the rhythm game genre is officially making a massive comeback!
During Gamescom’s Opening Night Live earlier this week, Geoff Keighley gave us our biggest look yet at Stage Tour, the highly anticipated rhythm game from RedOctane Games. Built by veterans of the original music game era alongside leading community creators, this isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s a full-blown genre revival. Set to an epic trailer featuring Mötley Crüe’s “Kickstart My Heart,” the announcement dropped a ton of details about the game’s release, tracklist, and brand-new hardware.
Here is everything you need to know about the game that’s about to take over your living room.
When Does Stage Tour Launch?
Mark your calendars: Stage Tour officially launches on December 10, 2026. The game will be available on PlayStation®5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo® Switch™2, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store).
Familiar, But Fresh Gameplay
RedOctane’s mantra for Stage Tour is “familiar, but fresh,” and the gameplay reflects exactly that. Up to four players can rock out together locally or via cross-platform online co-op.
But here’s the kicker: you don’t need a closet full of plastic instruments to get a full band going. The game supports any combination of guitar controllers, drum controllers, microphones, standard gamepads, or even keyboard and mouse. You could literally have four people shredding on gamepads, or a traditional full-band setup—the choice is yours.
Modes include:
- Quickplay & Practice: The tried-and-true classics.
- Judgements Mode: A new, hardcore accuracy-focused mode.
- Karaoke Mode: A casual, vocals-only mode for party nights.
- Tour Mode: An all-new, roguelite-inspired single-player campaign where you choose your path, pick your bandmates, and hit the road. No two tours will play out the same.
A Massive 90+ Song Setlist
A rhythm game lives and dies by its setlist, and Stage Tour is bringing the heat with over 90 songs spanning six decades.
RedOctane unveiled 20 new tracks at Gamescom, bringing the currently revealed list to 45. The tracklist is an incredible mix of era-defining classics and modern anthems. The confirmed tracklist so far includes:
- “Bite Me” – Avril Lavigne
- “RATATATA” – BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy
- “Just Pretend” – Bad Omens
- “Blind and Frozen” – Beast in Black
- “Red Flag” – Billy Talent
- “Pump It” – Black Eyed Peas
- “MORE THAN YOU KNOW” – blink-182
- “Siren” – Castle Rat
- “I Fought the Law” – The Clash
- “Just Like Heaven” – The Cure
- “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” – The Darkness
- “Photograph” – Def Leppard
- “Rio” – Duran Duran
- “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran feat. Bring Me the Horizon
- “Get the Funk Out” – Extreme
- “Heartbreak Feels So Good” – Fall Out Boy
- “Land of Confusion” – Genesis
- “Square Hammer” – Ghost
- “Mimi’s Delivery Service” – Good Kid
- “Airhead” – Honey Revenge
- “Grace” – Jeff Buckley
- “The Unknowing” – Jfarrari
- “Jane!” – The Long Faces
- “The End” – Mammoth
- “The Motherload” – Mastodon
- “Tornado of Souls” – Megadeth
- “Lux Æterna” – Metallica
- “Kickstart My Heart” – Mötley Crüe
- “Starlight” – Muse
- “ballad of a homeschooled girl” – Olivia Rodrigo
- “Do Me Like That” – The Paradox
- “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” – Paramore
- “Just” – Radiohead
- “Dani California” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Broken Dreams, Inc.” – Rise Against
- “In the Stars” – The Rolling Stones
- “Psychosocial” – Slipknot
- “All Star” – Smash Mouth
- “In the Meantime” – Spacehog
- “Terminator Oscillator” – Static-X
- “…Baby One More Time” – Tenacious D
- “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
- “Island in the Sun” – Weezer
- “Teenage Dirtbag” – Wheatus
- “Sharp Dressed Man” – ZZ Top
The rest of the setlist will be announced through the Stage Tour Setlist Reveal series across social media between now and the December 10th launch.
Stage Tour Next-Gen Hardware and Gibson Partnership
If you want to play authentically, Stage Tour is delivering some serious hardware. Through a multi-year partnership with Gibson, the game features over 180 authentic Gibson, Epiphone®, and Kramer® guitars in-game, alongside 50 unlockable bandmates.
In the real world, you can get your hands on brand-new instrument controllers directly from stagetour.com and participating retailers like Amazon. Here’s a breakdown of the pricing and bundles:
- Base Game (Digital): $39.99 (Wishlists open now)
- Stage Tour Kramer Guitar & Game Bundle: $129.99 (Pre-ordering at stagetour.com bags you an exclusive Dark Horse comic book)
- Stage Tour Band Kit + Game Bundle: $299.99 (The ultimate living room setup)
- Individual Hardware: Kramer Guitar Controller ($109.99), Drum Kit ($199.99), Wireless Mic ($29.99), Wired Mic ($19.99).
For the ultra-hardcore, RedOctane is also partnering with CRKD for premium, officially licensed Gibson controllers, including a stunning 8K Gibson Explorer 20th Anniversary Edition ($129.99) and a Gibson Les Paul Oxblood Edition ($119.99+).
Our take…
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a proper, blockbuster rhythm game release, and Stage Tour looks like it’s doing everything right. By blending the classic formula with roguelite elements, massive cross-platform support, and a killer setlist, December 10th can’t get here soon enough.
Want a longer look at the upcoming game? Check out RedOctane’s Stage Tour Backstage: Official Deep Dive:
Stage Tour Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: When is the Stage Tour release date?
A: Stage Tour launches globally on December 10, 2026.
Q: What consoles will Stage Tour be on?
A: It will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store).
Q: Do I have to buy a plastic guitar to play Stage Tour?
A: Nope! While the guitar controller offers the classic experience, Stage Tour features custom note charts for standard gamepads and keyboard & mouse, allowing you to jump in with the controllers you already own.
Q: Is there online multiplayer?
A: Yes. Stage Tour fully supports cross-platform online co-op play, as well as online leaderboards.
Q: Will old plastic instruments work with the new game?
A: The press release currently details the brand-new Kramer, CRKD Gibson, and Stage Tour Drum Kit hardware. Stay tuned for further compatibility announcements from RedOctane regarding legacy controllers.
Q: Where can I pre-order the game and instruments?
A: You can wishlist the digital game on your preferred console storefront now. You can pre-order physical hardware and game bundles directly at stagetour.com and from participating retailers like Amazon.
