Stage Tour
A new look at Stage Tour is out there after the big weekend, and we get a tease of the music and gameplay coming to Stage Tour
Those rhythm game fans, like us, have some great news out there for the upcoming Stage Tour. Not only did we get further confirmation that the game is on the way to us all before the end of the year for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but we also got a great new developer update that dives into so many aspects of the game. Including a little bit of the music that we will get to play in this new title. Also, for those who love to have fun cosmetics, a solid look at that for your performers, along with the various instruments that we will get in-game and out of game for Stage Tour. That does mean more plastic drums, guitars, and microphones, but when you see how it will all flow in the near future, you might be okay with having all of that. Even if there will be an option to hit all of the notes with just your basic controller, if you do not want to go all-out for the game.
If you were worried that Stage Tour was going to truly shake everything up out there in terms of the gameplay we know from games like Guitar Hero, well, you can put that to rest. Even if it will be a bit closer to the later stages of that IP, with all of the instruments being used. What will be given a shake-up to the gameplay loop, though, will be the fact that the campaign will play out more like a roguelike title than a traditional rhythm game. Different setlists, locations, and modifiers to make certain that we are coming back to play Stage Tour many times over. If not, just hopping in for another Quickplay option, or something that the team is calling Judgements Mode. That one sounds something closer to making sure you are perfecting the timing of the music more than just jamming out, but we will know more in the coming months leading up to when it is ready to launch out there.
I did mention that we did have a bit of a taste for the music that Stage Tour was going to have in there. There was some concern after the announcement that we were going to see many songs that were license-free to help make sure that the game could last longer than others that had to come down from that issue. During the recent showcase of Stage Tour, we are glad to see that it is not going to be the case. We have seven songs that were highlighted, with the likes of Babymetal, Electric Callboy, Ghost, and Static-X in the mix of the lineup. Along with news that many more in the rock, metal, alt-rock, and pop-punk scenes will be announced as we gear up for the launch of the game. That is rather exciting, and I will be curious to see how they go about keeping the songs in the game and adding more to make sure we have more reasons to keep on rocking out there.
Stage Tour — Developer Spotlight
RedOctane Games has unveiled its latest trailer for Stage Tour during IGN Live 2026, offering the most revealing look yet at the upcoming 5-fret rhythm game built around music, performance, community, and the shared energy of playing together.
The new Developer Spotlight Trailer gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at a game still actively being built, refined, and shaped with input from the rhythm game community. The studio also confirmed that Stage Tour is officially coming to PC and major consoles, with much more music, gameplay, and platform news planned for later this summer and the road to launch.
Featuring insights from the developers, creators, and collaborators helping shape the project, the trailer highlights the fan-first passion, ambition, and scale behind Stage Tour. The team brings together veteran rhythm game developers, community developers, creators, players, and 5-fret fans who have helped keep the genre alive and evolving, alongside co-development partners Eidos-Montréal and Third Kind Games. The project includes contributors from iconic franchises, including Guitar Hero and DJ Hero, as well as key members of the core development team behind the community-led rhythm game YARG.
Stage Tour is built to bring people together through the power of music, whether players are performing solo, rocking out with friends online, or turning their living room into a virtual concert experience. Inspired by social energy, competition, and unforgettable moments that made rhythm games a worldwide phenomenon, Stage Tour aims to deliver an experience that is accessible, exciting, and rewarding for players of all skill levels.
Players can jump in with guitar, drums, vocals, keyboard, or a standard controller, making it easy for first-time players to join in while giving longtime rhythm game fans the dedicated instrument experience they love.
The new trailer also teased Stage Tour’s flagship Campaign Mode, a fresh progression-driven take on the rhythm genre inspired by modern roguelites. Each campaign run will have different setlists, challenges, gameplay modifiers, and branching paths. Picking the right powers and items for your loadout is the key to a successful tour. This mode is built around giving players unique and endlessly replayable experiences.
Alongside Campaign Mode, players will also be able to jump instantly into songs through Quickplay, sharpen their skills with Practice Mode, and test their mastery in Judgements Mode, built for players chasing perfection.
An Early Taste of the Soundtrack
Nothing brings people together like a killer soundtrack, and Stage Tour is turning the volume all the way up. Built to celebrate generations of music fans, the game’s officially licensed setlist blends iconic rock anthems with modern global hits spanning rock, metal, alt-rock, pop-punk, and beyond.
RedOctane Games revealed the seven songs featured in the game’s closed alpha:
- “RATATATA” by Babymetal & Electric Callboy
- “Get the Funk Out” by Extreme
- “Square Hammer” by Ghost
- “Mimi’s Delivery Service” by Good Kid
- “Dani California” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Terminator Oscillator” by Static-X
- “Island in the Sun” by Weezer
The closed alpha setlist is only an early taste of the broader Stage Tour soundtrack, bringing together artists and songs built to feel great in players’ hands, whether someone is chasing a perfect run, playing casually with friends, or discovering a new favorite track.
Are you pumped up for Stage Tour after seeing all of this, or were you hoping to hear that we could keep all of our older instruments working a bit longer? How many songs do you think we will see when the game launches, and how do you suspect that they will add more in over the run of the game? Will Judgement Mode help us get better at playing the real instruments, or will it only be about perfecting the scores in the game for leaderboards? Let us have those thoughts and more down in the comment section of the page. We will have all that we can for Stage Tour as we head towards its launch and beyond, so please keep checking in with us for all of those updates. Watch the website and follow all of our social channels to make certain you are not missing out on any of the fun updates that we will have along the way out there.
