Rhythm games have spent the last decade searching for a comeback. While titles like Fortnite Festival and Clone Hero have kept the genre alive, many players are still waiting for a true successor to the living room guitar game phenomenon of the 2000s. RedOctane Games believes Stage Tour can fill that void, and it’s bringing plenty to show off at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Fresh off its debut at IGN Live 2026, RedOctane announced a slate of new reveals ahead of Stage Tour’s planned Holiday 2026 launch, including a comic book partnership, hands-on gameplay, additional soundtrack reveals, and confirmation of the game’s launch platforms.
One of the biggest surprises is an exclusive collaboration with Dark Horse Comics. The publisher will release a Stage Tour one-shot comic that expands the game’s universe by introducing the bandmates and lore behind its fictional world. Written by Zoe Tunnell with artwork by Liana Kangas and cover art by Kim Hu, the comic will be available exclusively to San Diego Comic-Con attendees while supplies last. Players who preorder future Stage Tour hardware bundles will also receive the comic as a bonus collectible.
Visitors to Booth #2834 at SDCC will also get one of the first opportunities to play the latest closed alpha build. Rather than using traditional demo stations, RedOctane has partnered with Paradox Arcades to showcase the game on custom-built arcade cabinets. Fans can also get an early look at the officially licensed Kramer Guitar Controller, with pre-production units available for attendees to try ahead of launch.
The publisher also confirmed Stage Tour will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, with Steam wishlists available now. Wishlist support and preorders for consoles will follow at a later date.
Alongside the SDCC announcements, RedOctane expanded the game’s licensed soundtrack to 16 confirmed songs, demonstrating the studio’s goal of appealing to multiple generations of rhythm game fans.
Some of the newly confirmed tracks include:
- “Psychosocial” by Slipknot
- “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Island in the Sun” by Weezer
- “Square Hammer” by Ghost
- “Get the Funk Out” by Extreme
- “Bite Me” by Avril Lavigne
- “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic” by Paramore
- “RATATATA” by BABYMETAL & Electric Callboy
The soundtrack also mixes in newer artists such as Good Kid, Honey Revenge, Castle Rat, and The Long Faces, suggesting RedOctane isn’t relying solely on nostalgia to carry the experience.
At its core, Stage Tour is built around the familiar five-fret gameplay popularized by Guitar Hero, but it’s aiming to modernize the formula with progression systems, customization, and multiple ways to play. Players can perform on guitar, bass, drums, or vocals using compatible instrument controllers, microphones, standard controllers, or even a keyboard.
That last point may be the most important. The team behind Stage Tour includes veterans from the Guitar Hero and DJ Hero franchises alongside members of the rhythm gaming community that has kept the genre alive long after most major publishers moved on. Combined with RedOctane’s multi-year partnership with Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer, the project feels less like a nostalgia cash-in and more like an attempt to give rhythm games a genuine second act.
