It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about the Rock Band franchise in 2025, a series that truly belonged to a different era.

Rock Band and Guitar Hero were huge hits during the PlayStation 2 era and remained popular through the early years of the PlayStation 3. By the mid-2010s, their popularity had faded, but Rock Band 4 attempted to keep the spirit alive, releasing on October 6, 2015, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Now, we’ve learned that the licensing deals were only valid for ten years, which means the game will be removed from the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store on October 5. The developer Harmonix issued the following statement.

“Hey everyone. On Sunday, October 5, 2025, Rock Band 4 turns 10. What a ride it’s been! With this milestone comes one big change: the original licenses for the core soundtrack are expiring. Because of that, Rock Band 4 will be removed from the PlayStation and Xbox digital stores. If you already own the game, don’t worry — you’ll still have full access and can download the game and songs to any new, compatible devices. The same applies to downloadable content: songs will be removed as they hit the 10-year mark, but anything you’ve purchased will remain in your library.”

“We’re so grateful for the passion this community has shown. It’s been a special experience for the team to provide Rivals challenges, a vast library of downloadable content, and the best band simulator out there. If you’ve been thinking about picking up a few more songs, now’s the time. Thanks again,” wrote the Rock Band team.

Fans shouldn’t expect a new Rock Band anytime soon. Harmonix has been owned by Epic Games since 2021, and the studio hasn’t released many games in recent years. Their most recent project, Fortnite Festival, launched in 2023 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Like Rock Band, it’s a rhythm-based title — but one that doesn’t require additional hardware to enjoy.

Source: Gematsu