Today EA, MTV and Harmonix have confirmed the UK release of Rock Band is set for May 23. News of a release date has been expected for quite some time; however, in an unexpected coup Harmonix has announced the popular music rhythm game will be a timed exclusive for everyone's favorite HD-platform.
In a press release early this morning Harmonix confirmed the Xbox 360 version Rock Band will hit the UK in "an exclusive launch window of May 23," while other platforms will see the title released later this summer. However, the news may not be as peachy as UK gamers would like.
The game will be sold separately from an "Instrument Edition," which is only includes the drum set, guitar and microphone peripherals, priced at GBP 129.99 (EUR 169). When factoring in the price of the software the package will cost gamers roughly $360 US. Additionally, UK gamers will have the option of purchasing wireless guitars separately for GBP 59.99 (EUR 79.99), while the standard drum kit will go for GBP 69.99 (EUR 89.99).
The UK version of Rock Band will include all 58 tracks found in the North American release, as well as feature nine new tracks spanning German, French and UK hits.
Considering the popularity of the game Stateside, Microsoft has definitely stolen one of the biggest releases out from under Sony's nose -- in a heavily pro-Sony market. While the exclusivity may boost the sales of the Xbox 360 in the region we wonder how UK gamers will feel swallowing the steep price to get their rock on.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
4-08-2008 @ 10:06AM
EAsucks said...
So basically, £180 for the whole game, or €240 if you're not from the UK?
Pass.
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4-08-2008 @ 5:54PM
Lars said...
EA is such sell-outs. Not only taking cash from Microsoft to delay the other consoles' but not even passing that extra cash onto the consumer as savings. I'm really starting to dislike EA. Or maybe I have never really been into EA products until recently (not into sports). Have they always been such pricks?
4-08-2008 @ 10:16AM
alex said...
UK gets screwed on price again, what a shocker.
Think ill give it a miss.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:16AM
Majikthise said...
just checked the US price for this
Amazon.com $148 or £74
£180 = 243%. OK MS, I'm ready to bend over. I haven't had a red ring for weeks.
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4-08-2008 @ 11:18AM
PerfectStrategy said...
Microsoft is not the one charging for this game...
4-08-2008 @ 1:28PM
JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) said...
£74 is how much one rip-off company charges for GH3 Bundle.But I guess us Brits gotten used to it already.
4-08-2008 @ 10:27AM
Hooligunn said...
In all honesty, do they really expect the game to sell well at those prices? I for one have had £150 saved for ages for it, so I'll be buying, but I'm gonna feel royally ripped off.
£130 INCLUDING game is acceptable. I was expecting that sort of price. £170 - you can buy a new 360 for that over here now. Disgraceful - EU ripped off once more.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:40AM
MDJ2010 said...
Well the price is steep, but im happier that I dont have to wait till the summer, ive been wanting to play those drums for too long now!
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4-08-2008 @ 10:45AM
DaveC said...
Rock Band in UK May 23rd, good times. £180 for all the instruments, more than double the US price, bad times.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:46AM
JakubK666 (Ninja Defence Force) said...
£180 - A Brand New Wii,Brand New Arcade, Second-Hand Elite and Second-Hand PS3.Oh and 3 Guitar Hero III Bundles.
Who the fuck needs Rockband?
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4-08-2008 @ 10:51AM
Trapper Dave said...
I've worked out that it's cheaper for me to buy the bundled edition from Amazon (US) and get it shipped to a university friend currently living and working in the states, from I'm going to pay for him to ship it to me in the UK - that's the instruments taken care of.
And then when the game disk is launched in the UK, I'll have to get that too as the US one will be region locked, but even this long and drawn out debacle will work out about £50 cheaper than buying it in the UK on launch.
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4-08-2008 @ 10:56AM
RealDoubleJ said...
so pretty much the game for free....which is what we should get (like the yanks) for buying the instruments >:|
4-08-2008 @ 10:54AM
SadisticHam said...
LOL the whole game is floating around the price of an xbox 360 arcade package.
In your dreams. XD This is a joke right?
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4-08-2008 @ 10:57AM
Yar TTomlliw said...
Sadly, April 1st was last week ... :S
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4-08-2008 @ 11:08AM
iFester said...
I knew the UK would get screwed on pricing, but NOT that bad! That's to most insane pricing EVER!! Soon they'll be asking for your first born as down-payment on the next generation of consoles.
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4-08-2008 @ 11:14AM
Paulypies said...
Those are crazy prices. The separate guitar is basically the same price as GH3 with a guitar. I really expected them to hit the £100 mark for the all in one box too.
Colour me very disappointed.
Am I right in thinking i can use one of my GH guitars in rockband on the 360 tho right? knowing that, is anyone likely to buy the separate guitar?
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4-08-2008 @ 11:23AM
Boff said...
Ooof that's a kick in the bollocks if ever I had one. I've read through your article about 4 times now and I still can't get my head around it.
The 'instrument edition' is basically INSTRUMENTS ONLY and NO GAME for £130? WTF? That can't be right surely.
Weren't the US bundles the game + drums package? That's what I was hoping for over here. Or will it be game & drums separate purchases?
I only want the game & drums to accompany my GHIII axe.
Help!
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4-08-2008 @ 11:28AM
Trapper Dave said...
Actually the only thing that might make it buying on launch in UK worthwhile is if;
1). The guitar in the bundle is wireless - I don't think that's been addressed.
2). Online world tour; although on Xbox.com (http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/r/rockband/) it says that it has online multiplayer of 2-4 players; maybe that's it?
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4-08-2008 @ 11:54AM
Jer said...
No online World Tour. You can get up to four people in an online quick play and that's it. All of the World Tour cheevos must be acquired on the same console. Sucks.
Also, to Paulypies, yes, you can use your GH axes on RB.
Why does EA ruin the gaming experience?
4-08-2008 @ 11:44AM
druggedUK said...
This is awful. I've been waiting so long - I was so excited when I saw the title, then was royally ****ed off.
Convert the RRP of a new game in the US to £ - 60$ = £30~. And the RRP in the UK is £50. That's a 166% increase on the conversion price.
Apply that logic to the £85 coversion price for Rock Band US and it should have an RRP of £140~. And even that's expensive, but the logic is there. Also, most shops sell brand new games for £40, which is a 133% markup - that logic applied to Rock Band is £115~.
Any RRP between £115 & £140 would have been *just* do-able. £180 is ridiculous.
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