Guitar Hero is coming to mobile, and stumbles out the block with AI announcement

Guitar Hero Mobile: A Rocky Start for a Legendary Franchise

The rhythm game genre might not have exploded in the West, but Guitar Hero was the undeniable exception. Its legendary status is about to be tested with a hotly anticipated mobile revival. However, Activision’s announcement stumbled badly out of the gate.

Instead of a captivating trailer or a polished press release, the reveal consisted of a jarring, AI-generated promotional image on Instagram. Predictably, the art overshadowed the franchise's return, especially given Activision's recent controversy surrounding AI art in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Details on Guitar Hero Mobile’s look and sound are scarce. While the series had a previous mobile iteration nearly 20 years ago (see below), fans are expecting something significantly more impressive this time around.

A Sour Note: The Art Controversy

The AI art used in the announcement has been widely criticized for its poor quality and seemingly outdated generation techniques. This misstep could significantly impact the game's reception, especially considering the stiff competition from successful rhythm games like Space Ape's BeatStar.

Despite the potential of Guitar Hero on mobile and my personal excitement for its return, Activision's missteps are undeniable. The initial impression is unfortunately a negative one.

For those interested in exploring other successful mobile adaptations of major franchises, check out our list of the top 9 Final Fantasy games on mobile.