In the world of fast-paced rhythm games, the Western market never fully embraced the genre, with one notable exception: Guitar Hero. Now, this iconic franchise is poised for a comeback, and it's set to grace mobile devices! However, the excitement for this revival has been dampened by a less-than-stellar announcement from Activision.
The reveal of Guitar Hero Mobile was not accompanied by a trailer or a detailed press release but was instead marked by an AI-generated promotional image shared on Instagram. This choice has drawn significant criticism, especially in light of another recent controversy involving AI-generated art in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The use of AI art has unfortunately overshadowed the announcement of this eagerly awaited return.
As for specifics on what Guitar Hero Mobile will entail, details are scarce. The franchise did make its way to mobile devices nearly two decades ago, as shown below. Given this history, fans are hoping for a significantly enhanced experience this time around.
Broken Strings - The AI-generated art used in the announcement has been widely criticized for its poor quality, potentially not even utilizing the latest image generation technology. This has led many to speculate that Guitar Hero Mobile may struggle to gain traction, especially with formidable competitors like Space Ape's BeatStar still enjoying popularity.
While the prospect of Guitar Hero returning is thrilling, and the potential for success on mobile platforms is undeniable, Activision's misstep with the announcement has cast a shadow over the revival. Despite the excitement surrounding the franchise's return, the initial reaction has been one of disappointment.
In the meantime, if you're interested in exploring how other major franchises have fared on mobile devices, consider checking out the top 9 Final Fantasy games available on smartphones.