The well-known Guitar Hero first appeared in November 2005, but the series has experienced a downturn for a significant period. The latest installment, Guitar Hero Live, was released in 2015, and no substantial updates regarding a new title have been seen since. Nevertheless, the Guitar Hero community remains active in 2025, and a new controller is set to launch for the Wii later this month.
Hyperkin has revealed that an updated model of the company’s Wii Guitar is now available for preorder ahead of its release on January 8. This device is named the Hyper Strummer and offers compatibility with both the Wii’s Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, including the original Rock Band title.
New Year, New Wii… Guitars. Presenting the HYPER STRUMMER! An upgraded version of our classic Wii Guitar, and we have been working hard to surprise you with what’s coming this year! The HyperStrummer is now available for preorder! pic.twitter.com/e82FJN6bCk
— Hyperkin (@Hyperkin) January 1, 2025
Priced at $77, the Hyper Strummer is relatively expensive. However, it is designed to mimic the original Guitar Hero controllers. Additionally, it operates on the Wii remote, so players may not need to purchase batteries for this controller. While it’s uncertain how many Guitar Hero or Rock Band fans are still using the Wii in 2025, it’s likely Hyperkin considered this before proceeding with the project.
Since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company now oversees the future of any upcoming Guitar Hero games. Earlier this year, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer disclosed that he declined the opportunity to acquire Guitar Hero before it became a massive success. In 2022, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick mentioned that he and Spencer discussed the possibility of reviving Guitar Hero, but no further updates have been reported regarding those discussions since. Guitar Hero was also considered a finalist for induction into the 2024 class of the Video Game Hall of Fame. However, it was not among the titles selected for that year.
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