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Surprise! Rock Band 3 gets new DLC

But what does it all mean?

Peripheral-based music game Rock Band 3 gets brand new downloadable content today, Harmonix has announced.

New tracks from Arctic Monkeys (R U Mine?), Avenged Sevenfold ( Shepherd Of Fire) and Foo Fighters (Something From Nothing) launch on Xbox 360 today, 13th January, and on PlayStation 3 in Europe on 21st January, the developer said. Each song costs £0.99, $1.99 or €1.49.

The announcement comes as some surprise, given it's been 21 months since Rock Band 3 saw any new DLC. The previous DLC release was American Pie by Don McLean - in April 2013.

Many are now speculating Harmonix is ready to revive Rock Band for release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but the developer wouldn't be drawn on the possibility.

And we should not expect weekly Rock Band DLC releases either, Harmonix said. Consider the release of these three songs as more of a "special treat", the developer said.

The news also comes amid reports that claim Activision is working on a new Guitar Hero game.

Back in October 2014, PSU reported that the new Guitar Hero would feature live crowd scenes. The information came from a source who allegedly lives close to the venue at which the recording was taking place.

We've also heard whispers that Activision is building a new Guitar Hero game, although details are scarce.

Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero enjoyed huge success between 2006 and 2010, but the music video game bubble burst after sales fell sharply.

Back in April 2011 Activision head of developer relations Dan Winters said Guitar Hero wasn't dead, just "on hiatus". And Harmonix has often said Rock Band remains close to its heart. One to watch, then.