Latest news with #SimonEbejer
Express Tribune
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Original Guitar Hero developers reunite at RedOctane Games to create next‑generation rhythm experience
A group of veteran Guitar Hero developers and founders of the franchise have reunited to launch a fresh rhythm gaming venture. Operating under the label RedOctane Games, this team aims to advance the rhythm genre with a modern twist. Among the core team are former Guitar Hero production director Simon Ebejer and brothers Charles and Kai Huang—the original creators—serving in advisory roles. They have already begun prototyping next-generation hardware, including a guitar-style controller designed to deliver familiarity for longtime fans while incorporating new functionality for the 2025 gaming era. In a statement posted on August 6, the team clarified that their forthcoming title will not replicate Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Guitar Freaks, or Rock Band. Instead, they described their goal as 'creating connected rhythm experiences that unite cutting-edge controllers, genre-defining titles, and a thriving community.' One early prototype was briefly tested alongside Fortnite Festival, though the team chose to continue independently. As the project progresses, they suggest that the new game may emphasise online engagement and live-service features, potentially including a regular release of new music content. Though the project remains in its early stages and no release date has been confirmed, fans of rhythm-based gaming are already looking forward to further updates.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RedOctane Games Launches: A New Studio Dedicated to Rhythm Gaming Innovation
Simon Ebejer RedOctane Games Livermore, CA, Aug. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aug 6, 2025 – A fresh beat is about to drop in the world of music rhythm games. Today marks the official launch of RedOctane Games, a small but passionate studio founded by veterans of the rhythm game world, alongside exceptional new-generation developers, creators, and community leaders from the global rhythm gaming scene. RedOctane Games is focused solely on advancing the rhythm game genre combining the past with the future and being driven forward hand in hand with this well-established and respected community of gamers. The team has been busy in pre-production over recent months and has now officially entered production on its debut rhythm-based title, which is expected to be announced later this up the studio is Simon Ebejer, a seasoned games industry leader who was the Production Director on several Guitar Hero titles during his time at Neversoft, later becoming Studio Head at Vicarious Visions and VP of Operations at Blizzard Entertainment, where he played a pivotal role in the organization and delivery of Diablo IV. The RedOctane Games team includes creators and developers who helped create and scale Guitar Hero and DJ Hero nearly two decades ago, as well as proven emerging development talent and community leaders from across today's rhythm gaming space. The studio is being built with the community from the ground up, ensuring that players are part of the creative journey from day one. In addition, it has been announced that brothers Charles and Kai Huang will join a special advisory board for the company. Charles and Kai were the original founders of the Guitar Hero franchise back in 2005, having partnered with Harmonix Music Systems to launch the groundbreaking title that helped define a generation of rhythm gaming. Their involvement brings deep heritage and insight to the studio's future direction. 'Rhythm games are about more than just gameplay they're about feel, flow, and connection to the music and to each other,' said Simon Ebejer, Head of Studio. 'RedOctane Games is our way of giving back to a genre that means so much to us, while pushing it forward in new and exciting directions.' With community-built development at its core and a strong foundation of technical and creative talent, RedOctane Games is ready to deliver the next evolution in rhythm gaming. See the studio announce trailer here: About RedOctane GamesRedOctane Games LLC is a rhythm game-focused studio founded in 2025 by a collective of rhythm game development veterans, hardware pioneers, and community leaders passionate about music gameplay. The team brings decades of experience building iconic rhythm titles, alongside proven emerging developers shaping the next generation of the genre. With a studio culture rooted in creativity, technical excellence, and deep fan collaboration, RedOctane Games is committed to building the future of rhythm gaming together with its players. The studio is currently developing a range of innovative rhythm-based experiences, with its first title set to be revealed later in 2025. © 2025 RedOctane Games, LLC ('RedOctane Games'). RedOctane Games is a game studio that creates music and rhythm games and accessories. RedOctane Games is a company within Embracer Freemode Inc. RedOctane and RedOctane Games are registered or unregistered trademarks of Freemode Go LLC. All other trademarks are owned by their respective owners. For press inquiries, interviews, or to receive updates, please contact:Via email: press@ website: @redoctanegames on all socials or click here Contact Info Alex 7957 204660 Attachments Simon Ebejer RedOctane GamesError in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
RedOctane Is Back, And ‘Guitar Hero' Finally Gets Spiritual Successor
RedOctane Games — the company behind Guitar Hero — is back. Well, sort of — Embracer Freemode, which has been much more about layoffs than new IPs these last 18 months, has relaunched the studio, which initially closed in 2010, and hopes to make rhythm gaming the next old-new thing. For those who connected the dots, it's probably one of the more minor shocks of recent weeks. Fans of the genre have been well aware for months that another Embracer Freemode company, peripheral manufacturer CRKD, recently and somewhat incongruously announced a Gibson Les Paul controller as the latest addition to its line-up. Until then, CRKD was much more traditional with its products, including its retro-style NEO S pad, the miniature Atom controller, and the superb Nitro Deck and Nitro Deck + for Switch — something which seemed more likely to be its next big step in line with the Switch 2. Naturally, the RedOctane team leaned into this perfectly planned pairing pretty heavily in today's announcement trailer: The studio will be led by industry veteran Simon Ebejer, who previously served as production director on Guitar Hero at Neversoft, then held roles as studio head at Vicarious Visions (Band Hero), before jumping up a couple of grades to VP of operations at Blizzard Entertainment. With RedOctane, he's leading a team containing both legacy Guitar Hero and DJ Hero developers and new talent. RedOctane Games has also enlisted the services of Charles and Kai Huang, co-founders of the original Guitar Hero franchise, as special advisors on its (re?)debut title, which will be announced later in the year. The team aims to work on a community-first basis, speaking directly with rhythm game fans from the start and throughout. For Embracer, which has spent the last year or more attracting much more negative headlines from its restructuring and redundancies, RedOctane Games is an interesting bet on nostalgia — sentimentality I'm absolutely on board with on a personal level. Still, there was a reason that many other players and I consigned Guitar Hero sessions to arcades. Maybe — hopefully — RedOctane and CRKD hit the right notes together. Judging by their first-ever blog post, you can see the passion is obviously there. Now, CRKD, make that Switch 2 Nitro Deck. And some Rock Band drums.
