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It has been 20 years since Guitar Hero debuted across the Atlantic, providing players everywhere the opportunity to become rock legends. Not literally, though you'd be hard-pressed telling that anyone who's mastered the epic lengthy guitar solo in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Developed by Harmonix, Guitar Hero gave players a guitar-shaped controller to follow on-screen cues moving along the screen in time with the music. Each riff mimicked specific notes, producing the feel of a genuine live show.

Harmonix previously tried its hand with rhythm games before partnering with the publisher, which was purchased by Activision during the mid-2000s. Collaboratively, they laid the groundwork for an unlikely billion-dollar series that had a remarkable influence for many of the artists included, showcasing decades-old groups to a new generation of younger players.

Michael Dornbrook, former COO from the developer, recalls the initial budgetary hurdles of licensing the songs – despite the fact the first two games mostly used cover versions.

“We rerecorded all the music since the dollar figure prohibitive,” he says. “Despite having the publishing rights alone, it was extremely difficult. We couldn’t get bands like legendary groups – RedOctane was operating on a shoestring budget, and we were fairly certain it would fail. However, when the game became a hit, album purchases and radio play were going up, everyone wanted to participate.”

He continues: “One of the remarkable aspects was how many parents got in touch and thanked us for exposing their children to the songs they loved. It became an intergenerational phenomenon.”

Classic Rock Finds a New Audience

Northern Irish blues-rock band one featured act included Never Too Late on the 2008 game the popular installment. Guitarist the artist remembers how the series revived older hits to the forefront: “The game offered a bigger, younger audience. Generally this had been considered outdated material, but then when it was included in the title and teenagers were finding it, suddenly it became trendy. That legitimised the genre, eliminating the outdated tag. It gave all our music a new life.”

In 2008, the band's first record was still not available stateside, meaning the game was a key medium of discovery for the band during their a North American tour opening for AC/DC. “The roadies were playing the song during travel, and some of them knew us thanks to the game,” he notes.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles Enduring Influence

Rock’s heavyweight names quickly took advantage of the series’ popularity, with Aerosmith, Metallica and others starring in specialized spin-off titles that focused on their music collections and associated lore, imagery and legendary status. For example, the Aerosmith edition, reportedly earned the group greater revenue than any of their records. It sold more than 500,000 copies in its first week, while demand for their songs rose of up to 40% during an era when the music business faced decline.

The series still motivates quick-handed dedication among its fans. Recently, a streamer completed an impressive attempt featuring the challenging track – an infamously tough anthem made popular by the game – using a fan-made version, a no-cost alternative with almost identical mechanics but an array of customisation options. The song is difficult enough on expert mode, let alone played at increased tempo while hitting a single one of its near 4,000 notes. The streamer claimed it took nine months to accomplish.

“Guitar Hero is a fun, imaginary experience. If you play Call of Duty, that doesn’t mean you should pick up a real gun and enlist,” notes musician the artist.

DragonForce previously completed a profitable run before their hit was featured on Guitar Hero III, but Li says it turned them into widely recognized. “I recall our distributors calling to tell me that we were records were moving rapidly,” he says. “It exploded when we next toured, and we were playing just before the headliners at the event.”

In fact, DragonForce’s exposure from Guitar Hero was so immense that it threatened to overshadow everything else accomplishments. Recently, the track was used in promotional material for Despicable Me 4. “Previously I thought otherwise, but I’ve made peace with it,” Li says. “If you only hear one DragonForce song, that's fine – each person has a unique path in music and I'm pleased we played a role in fans' experiences”.

Enduring Legacy from the Iconic Controller

Top-tier promotion, be it for cars, apparel or video games, goes further than selling something – it inspires a longing. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “That’s exactly what our team trying to create,” he confirms. “That thrill of performing as a rock star on the stage. Since the beginning, the creators felt that there’s an instinctive urge to make music, and their goal was to use technology to enable everyone to participate”.

The majority of Guitar Hero games came out in just a five-year period between 2005 and 2010, featuring derivative titles such as DJ Hero, complete with a turntable controller, and the band-focused game. After that, corporate focus in plastic instruments waned, except for a short-lived revival several years later.

Games like the fan project and Fortnite Festival have maintained the community alive, with expectations of a new product from the founders in development. Recently formed developers has begun production on their first music game. The initial creators are participating in advisory roles. Is the world ready to embrace another game in the spirit of the classic?

“Our team believed such titles might become similar to sports games where you can releases,” Dornbrook says. “There’s so much new music that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain optimistic. It's entirely possible for it to continue with new generations.”