Rock Band gets official Euro date

By Robert Purchese Published 8 April, 2008

Timed Xbox 360 exclusive.

Electronic Arts will be releasing the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band in Europe on 23rd May.

It will be a timed exclusive for Microsoft, with PS3, PS2 and Wii offerings to appear "later this summer".

(Update: EA has now clarified pricing details, too, having left them out of its original announcement. The instruments will be GBP 129.99 / EUR 169.99 with the game sold separately.)

Euro Rock Band will feature a selection of exclusive songs, as was rumoured in March. These include tracks from Oasis and Blur plus adopted German favourite Die Toten Hosen, which might mean "the trouser hose". But also might not.

We will get the full compliment of existing downloadable tracks on 27th May, too. This adds up to a meaty 70 songs, which you can get a load of over on the official site.

Going forwards, both European and American versions will be given fresh tracks at the same time each week.

The full list of Euro-exclusive songs can be found below.

English

  • "Beetlebum" by Blur
  • "Rock 'n' Roll Star" by Oasis
  • "Monsoon" by Tokio Hotel
  • "Hysteria" by Muse

German

  • "Hier Kommt Alex" by Die Toten Hosen
  • "Perfekte Welle" by Juli
  • "Countdown to Insanity" by H-Block X

French

  • "Manu Chao" by Les Wampas
  • "New Wave" by Playmo

EA is hosting an event today to showcase the game to the European press, so hopefully we'll have more on the announcement soon.

Meanwhile, pop over to our Rock Band import review to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (83) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ZuluHero #1 4 years ago

    well its about time. I'm not sure if I'm still as excited by Rock Band anymore, I'm a little burned out on all the iterations of Guitar Hero! Maybe when i see the box on the shelves it will become impossible to resist!

    Any news on the RRP? :p

  • mexalen #2 4 years ago

    'Die Toten Hosen' could be translated as "dead trousers", if you have to. But please - don't.

    er, and whats the pricing going to be anyway? It's hard to get excited, if you don't know how much you have to sell your organs for, to get enough money for a set.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 08:17

  • Tejstar #3 4 years ago

    Finally, it's been a long time coming!

  • morriss #4 4 years ago

    I wonder how much that cost MS?

  • Eraysor #5 4 years ago

    Thank god. I can finally find a use for all the trade in junk I've accumulated recently.

  • betahoven #6 4 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:36:16 17-12-2011

  • MrChaz #7 4 years ago

    At god damn last!

  • DDevil #8 4 years ago

    But what's the price? That's the REALLY important bit for me. I'm a patient guy, but I need to know how much I'll be fleeced of when I finally DO get it!

  • brooza #9 4 years ago

    meh

    If my £60 bundle preorder goes through, I'll get it, otherwise, no

  • ShadowsFall1978 #10 4 years ago

    LOL This does amuse me as anybody who really wants this game for the PS3 has imported from the US by now, and will only make the rest of the PS3 owners import it too. With all PS3 games being multiregional this exclusivity really is useless! Its this type of thing that made me get rid of my 360 a couple of weeks ago, and I have had it, well 4, since launch.

  • morriss #11 4 years ago

    So how will you DL and buy the DLC if you imprted?

  • windowlicker #12 4 years ago

    IGN are reporting that it will cost £129.99 for the instruments and £49.99 for the game making the real cost for the full Rock Band experience is £180. Wireless guitars are £59.99 and drum kits £69.99.

    I think that this game is now dead to me with this astonishingly insulting price tag.

  • jlaakso #13 4 years ago

    Well, finally, goddamit! Let's see, then we'll have to wait another half a year for the individual pieces? I do hope htey'll be availablle right away. I already have the great Les Pauls, no interest in the inferior Stratos of the set. Just give me the mic, the drums and the DVD, thank you.

    Oh well, I'm going to be rockin' out for some 14 hours tomorrow, maybe that'll soothe my thirst for another month.

    I've heard 200 euro mentioned for several times from people who should know, so around that, then, I'd wager.

  • bengray66 #14 4 years ago

    You can pick a real guitar up for less than £60 (be it a bad one) and a real drum set for less than £70 (again, bad ones) But then you can make real music!

  • mrraspy #15 4 years ago

    europeans still wont buy your rubbish console microsoft, pay all the money you want.

  • jlaakso #16 4 years ago

    Regarding importing: normal people will not import, and it's the massmarket they're going for. There will be lots of people still wanting this once it's out for the PS3 and Wii in Europe.

  • MikkyX #17 4 years ago

    Any more than £150 for the lot and I might have to think about whether to buy it. £150 or less and SOLD!

  • morriss #18 4 years ago

    Also regarding importing, the game is selling millions. I very much doubt every PS3 owner in Europe who wants the game would have imported it by now.

  • ShadowsFall1978 #19 4 years ago

    @Morriss

    I just log in and download it using a US account, which Sony actually have no problems with and have recently made a comment that the PSN store will remain region free, and then it will allow me to play it under any ID once I have purchased it. I have imported a number of games now and its all good.

    Furthermore.... as with when people imported UT3 many people do have this and quite happily play together online there is places were European people join in forums to play so it reduces the lag. My point was that this exclusivity is pretty useless with the fact that PS3 owners will just now go and import it instead, which microsoft cannot stop.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 09:00

  • MikkyX #20 4 years ago

    Also, 14 comments until the inevitable "buy real instruments!" comment. Is that longer than usual or about the norm?

  • sanctusmortis #21 4 years ago

    @Windowlicker: the insturment bundle INCLUDES the game. £130 is a lot better than the price we all guessed when the US one was - which was, um, £180. I'm personally betting on £150.

    Guitar Hero III's £70 with guitar, £50 for the game and £50 for a guitar. That gives you an idea.

  • FixedInfinity #22 4 years ago

    About bloody time!

  • windowlicker #23 4 years ago

    @Sanctus

    Here is the text from IGN, it does state that the instrument bundle comes without a copy of the game. Seems silly but until it is confirmed either way, this report will have to do.

    "UK, April 8, 2008 - Electronic Arts has at long last settled on an official European release date for Rock Band. However, don't get too excited unless you're an Xbox 360 owner – the May 23 launch on Microsoft's console will doubtless please 360 owners, but those hoping to jam on PlayStation 3, PS2 and Wii will have to wait until later in the summer. Initially it will only be available in the UK, France and Germany too, with other European territories to follow.

    Perhaps more disappointing is the price: unlike the US, which received a Special Edition that includes the game, a Fender Strat guitar, the drum kit and a mic, all for $169 – Europe will only get an Instrument Edition priced £129.99 / 169 Euros, including the three peripherals but not the game – which, bought separately, will set you back £49.99 / 69.99 Euros. So, if you want the proper Rock Band experience, the minimum you're going to have to shell out is around £180 / 240 Euros.

    Quite why EA has decided to release the Instrument Pack without the game is anyone's guess, although it's likely retailers will bundle the two together, if not at launch then hopefully shortly after. In addition, wireless guitars will be available separately for the princely sum of £59.99 / 79.99 Euros, with standalone drum kits setting you back £69.99 / 89.99 Euros.

    There is some good news though. In addition to the 58 songs featured in the US game, Europe will get eight news tracks from English, French and German bands, all bundled on the disc:

    - Beetlebum (Blur)
    - Rock 'n' Roll Star (Oasis)
    - Hysteria (Muse)
    - Manu Chao (Les Wamaps)
    - New Wave (Playmo)
    - Hier Kommt Alex (Die Toten Hosen)
    - Perfekte Welle (Juli)
    - Countdown to Insanity (H-Block X)

    What's more, the 70-plus downloadable tracks already available in US will be waiting for European rockers come May 27, priced 160 MS points each. Plus, US players can get their mitts on the eight European tracks around the same time. Quick recap then: if you want to the ultimate Rock Band experience, with two guitars and every song at your fingertips, be sure to put aside £330 / 430 Euros. On a positive note, going forward, Europe will have access to new downloadable songs at the same time as the US."

  • jlaakso #24 4 years ago

    Also, remember to add a microphone stand to the tally. I wouldn't dream of singing without. Thankfully, you can get a good enough budget one for very little.

  • manic_mouse #25 4 years ago

    Gay. I've been waiting patiently for this for months and months, now I have to wait until September? Bog off Harmonix, that's nearly a year after the yanks got it.

  • jlaakso #26 4 years ago

    No word on the pricing of the microphone, but that'd set me back 90 e for the drums, 70 e for the game and perhaps 40 for the mic - a grand total of 200 e. It's what I was prepared to pay anyway. I do expect two guitars + drums + mic + game bundles to surface very quickly, though.

  • Goodfella #27 4 years ago

    What a joke. EA can fuck right off.

    Tempted to import now.

  • Kyle #28 4 years ago

    "You can pick a real guitar up for less than £60 (be it a bad one) and a real drum set for less than £70 (again, bad ones) But then you can make real music!"

    Well, I certainly couldn't. Not without a good few years of practice. And that's kind of the point really, isn't it?

    If what IGN say is true, then EA really need to rethink their strategy. Restricting the game to 360 owners who can shell out just under £200? Doesn't sound like an instant-seller to me.

  • ShadowsFall1978 #29 4 years ago

    @ windowlicker if this is true then its an exclusivity period of being rippedoff! someone asked How much did this cost MS.....The answer is nothing because people buying it will ultimately pay for the exclusivity period. People see this as a good thing and a one up to Microsoft but really this is bad for 360 owners, and would have been better for you to have it released on all consoles at the same time so price would have been competitive. Its no different than the anti competitive laws MS has been breaking on the PC platform for years. This is exactly the reason why I have got rid of my 360!

  • Wendelius #30 4 years ago

    360 owners should remember that they can also use their GH guitars with the game. So, if there is an edition of the game with the drumkit only, that would be a more economical way to go about it (the GHIII wireless guitar is REALLY nice too. So that works out great).

    Wendelius

  • Prodigy_BE #31 4 years ago

    Importing this on PS3 will be cheaper than buying the 360 version in Europe, thanks to that low, low dollar.
    As long as you know people that will send it to you in an unmarked box, skipping out on import taxes.

    Still, to the mainstream gamer, this is a plus for MS.
    Not that it will win them back Europe, but then again, nothing ever will.

  • Stu #32 4 years ago

    At last!

  • McBradders #33 4 years ago

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAH!


    Fucking finally!

  • Andy247 #34 4 years ago

    Importing is something that savvy gamers will consider, but not many kids or parents of young kids will have the knowledge or ability to do that. Remember the survey that Sony did that showed that less than 30% of PS3 owners knew it was a Blu-Ray player? It's unlikely then that they'll know it's multi-region. Also, importing is likely to result in a hefty Customs Duty unless you're VERY lucky!

  • MrXBob #35 4 years ago

    Oh good god will all of you please shut up? Why is it that all insecure fanboys suddenly 'blame' Microsoft? They had nothing to do with this game being released on 360 first. The people doing the localisation clearly arent finished with the PS3/PS2 versions, which is why they will be late. Have you not noticed it's been like this for just about every multiplatform game? Seriously, get a grip on reality and stop flinging your hate around and making excuses for yourselves. It's utterly pathetic.

    Also, you read way too much into everything. This article says nothing about an exclusivity deal - Eurogamer put 'timed-exclusive' in the article simply to get more views.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 09:49

  • MBar #36 4 years ago

    High fives all round!

    An acceptable proposal, but if it gets pushed back again, so help me God, I'll ... whine, complain and buy it anyway ...

    Sigh ...

  • Wendelius #37 4 years ago

    "High fives all round! "

    I agree! can't wait to finally play it!

    Wendelius

  • muscleblade #38 4 years ago

    Too late

  • sharky_ob #39 4 years ago

    Played this on my mates imported special edition (all the kit) over the weekend. It is the mutts nuts. The guitar is great once you get used to it and the drums are just amazing. I even enjoyed the singing.

    I really want it, but I just don't know if I've got the space for it.

  • kangarootoo #40 4 years ago

    Hysteria is an awesome choice. Great guitars and great drums throughout.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #41 4 years ago

    I don't have a PS3 so I'm not directly affected by the exclusive 360 release but I would be rather enraged if I had a PS3 only. This game has taken ages to arrive here and now it's only out for one console for a while as well. Great move from MS no doubt but a pain for Wii/PS3 owners.

    It's a shame that EA let this happen, I know money means a lot but sometimes a little fan 'service' can't hurt.

    Edit: Hopefully they will be able to at least settle this GH3/Rock Band guitar dispute until then.
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 10:14

  • JayeM #42 4 years ago

    Buying. It.

  • r3n #43 4 years ago

    Still no word on *why* it was put back so long for Europe?

    It's about time though

  • Huntcjna #44 4 years ago

    Its ridiculously priced. Regardless of the pedigree of the game and developer they can do one if they think I am parting with that kind of cash for a box of plastic instruments and a game disc. How much was the US PS3 version?

  • Kury #45 4 years ago

    The Special Edition does include the game. That would be a pretty silly bundle if it didn't. Edit^2: well, I stand corrected. That's pretty damn retarded.

    The game is indeed awesome and well worth the money. In fact, I'm a bit miffed by the later PS3 release date because I was considering buying another full set to get another guitar (Hello Activision, btw!) and have a look if newer drumsets might be a bit bouncier (the crappy rebound is the one thing I really don't like about my drums).

    As for mics. You can use most standard USB microphones. I think Logitech makes a cheap one. But you really want the bundle anyway.

    But man is that ever a shitty german song selection (no doubt it will sell well, though). The only fun song is a song that's already in GH3, so no points for originality there. What a slap in the face for any german band that actually does "rock". As an aside, "countdown to insanity" as the title suggests, is in english, not german. (Since Tokio Hotel are in the english list, I assume it's not sorted by the bands origin.)

    Edit: the US bundle price is $170. The delay and most likely the PS3 exclusivity thing is because of lack of hardware supply. At least I sincerely doubt that translating the couple of loading screens into 3 languages would have taken half a year. And they obviously didn't spend any time evaluating local music either.
    Edited by 2 at 08/04/08 @ 10:56

  • alimokrane #46 4 years ago

    I'd rather get a Wii than this.

  • Moz #47 4 years ago

    WTF!!!!! so europe gets screwed for pricing again!!!! screw that I'll stick with Guitar Heros for the time being

  • Xerx3s #48 4 years ago

    ShadowsFall1978: Bollocks. The amount of people who imports stuff is negligible.

  • RobTheBuilder #49 4 years ago

    £129 without the game?!

    Pardon my language but EA you can fuck right off.

  • Zastai #50 4 years ago

    The instrument bundle makes sense from a distributor point of view. They probably have localized versions of the game and this way they don't need to have region-specific bundles (which means that if the game doesn't sell well in, say, Italy, it doesn't have instrument packs "locked up" in Italian SKUs).
    It's rubbish for the consumer though, and also means they're not just using the typical dollar-price-is-euro-price ripoff, but actually ADDING another 70 euros for the game: Americans pay $180 and we pay $375 to get it 6 months (or more) later. WTF?

  • Frosty840 #51 4 years ago

    Fuck 'em.
    Not paying that.

  • RobTheBuilder #52 4 years ago

    Thanks EA, you helped me decide to buy Guitar Hero III.

  • Tepic #53 4 years ago

    I'm another one in the no way camp. I was really looking forward to this as well!

  • JustcallmeWendy #54 4 years ago

    I was really looking forward to this game.
    Unfortunately EA has screwed up the pricing for me and alot of others, £180 is more than double the price of the US version.
    not only have we had to wait 8 months for the game, but now you want us to pay more than twice the price for the privalage.

    Ea are just taking the p***

  • alimokrane #55 4 years ago

    Go Get a Nintendo Wii it's much better! Seriously ... who the hell do they take us for ? idiots ? Shuv it up your bum EA!!!!

  • Machetazo #56 4 years ago

    EG, you missed a bit:

    "Initially it will only be available in the UK, France and Germany too, with other European territories to follow."

    Says the IGN article HiddenAway linked to, in the other thread: http://uk .xbox360.ign.com/articles/864/8...

  • KreyAtiv #57 4 years ago

    €170 just for the instruments and no game, for that price the game should be included. Not that I have the room for all the stuff, nor three other people willing to join in. Definitely scratched off the wanted list.

  • MBar #58 4 years ago

    Oooh, now there's a good thought. Anyone know if you could use American instruments with a UK copy of the game?

    The game may be region locked, but are the instruments ...

  • Prodigy_BE #59 4 years ago

    /pets it PS3

    Region free gaming... Good boy!

  • manic_mouse #60 4 years ago

    Wait, is this for real? To get the game and all the instruments costs £180. When the yanks can buy it for $170 and have been able to since November?

    Suck my cock EA and Harmonix. The lateness of the PS3 version pissed me off enough, the fact I have to pay more than TWICE what the Americans do is simply ludicrous.

  • sanctimoniousqf #61 4 years ago

    Wow. Price gouging much, EA? You can fuck right off - I was a guaranteed buyer for this, and had even saved up enough exchange value to get it at what I thought was the maximum possible rip-off price you'd charge the UK (about 50% above the US price), but at 110% markup I think I'll avoid not just Rock Band, but every other EA release that previously interested me... that would be Kane's Wrath, Mercenaries 2, Dead Space and Red Alert 3...

  • muters #62 4 years ago

    Christ, fuck this. I really, really wanted this game, but even if I had £180 to spare I'd still rather take a dump on the EA logo. Complete fucking insult. It costs considerably less than 180 dollars in the US. This arse is not for raping, as Maggie Thatcher once said.

  • IronGiant #63 4 years ago

    Timed exclusive? fuck right off.

  • GordonCaladan #64 4 years ago

    So why don't you just go join a band?

    Not only do you get all the fun of Rock Band, but you potentially also get the sex, drugs and money.

  • Dizzy #65 4 years ago

    7 months late and uber expensive. No BOY this one. Thanx EA.

  • Aaarrrgh #66 4 years ago

    Correction, not a full euro release.

    EA Denmark are even refusing to comment on any possible release date here in Denmark (as can be read here http://dailyrush.dk/ )
    Edited by 1 at 08/04/08 @ 15:23

  • Lebowski #67 4 years ago

    Are you reading all this, EA? You money-grabbing scum of a company. We all know companies aren't a charity, but you must think we're f**king stupid to pay that much extra for a six month old game.

  • pasota #68 4 years ago

    the price is ridiculous, more than 2 times the US price!

  • belziah #69 4 years ago

    EA Games - Uniting Gamers of all Flavours with a big F-YOU!!!!!

  • BrokenSun #70 4 years ago

    Absolutely ridiculous.

  • FortysixterUK #71 4 years ago

    That's a pretty hefty asking price.....129.99 for the instruments, which are useless without the game, which will be at least 34.99, and download content will around 4.00 per selection.....so with a few of downloads and the full setup could be as much as £180.00.

    Thats's fucking outrageous.

    Anyway, going to order mine now......( stamps the word "mug" on forehead ) **sigh**

  • ScarOnTheSky #72 4 years ago

    Erm, it's H-Blockx!

  • coderkind #73 4 years ago

    No fucking way for that price, I don't care if it's the best game in the world.

    The UK gets ripped off once again.

  • reddevil93 #74 4 years ago

    "Regarding importing: normal people will not import, and it's the massmarket they're going for. There will be lots of people still wanting this once it's out for the PS3 and Wii in Europe. "

    Going for the mass market with a £180 price tag for a game?
    Average Joe will think it comes with a console to play it on.

  • mkreku #75 4 years ago

    How the hell can you guys whine about how "UK gets ripped off again" when the REST of Europe will be paying the same or MORE than you AND HAVE TO WAIT EVEN LONGER?!

    We're all being ripped off by EA. Some worse than others (being Swedish and all where they want 213€ for the whole package..).

  • mkreku #76 4 years ago

    You'll pay €180 in may. I'll pay €213 a couple of months later. How is your €180 "twice what other people have paid" when I have to pay €213 AND wait longer?

  • LeSpank #77 4 years ago

    This can fuck right off. Way too expensive for any videogame.

  • mkreku #78 4 years ago

    Woah, sorry about that Aspic! I'm so used to being in the most expensive country in Europe (Sweden) that I didn't even bother with the conversion from £ to €. I'm amazed that you indeed seem to be paying even more than us! :|

  • cr0wley #79 4 years ago

    'Too' things; Too late and too damn expensive. If it hasn't been linked before, ars technica put up a comparison at http://ar stechnica.com/news.ars/post/200...

  • Diomedes117 #80 4 years ago

    "Americans pay $180 and we pay $375 to get it 6 months (or more) later."
    EA, you can S MY D...

  • cawley1 #81 4 years ago

    What is all the fuss about this and Guitar Hero shit?
    Over £150 for the game and accs?! As a PS3 owner I would rather blow my money on a 360 so I can play Space Giraffe!

  • Xerx3s #82 4 years ago

    "Region free gaming... Good boy!"

    Your point being?

  • Moonprince #83 4 years ago

    Very smart move from MS. This is just the type of game they need to become more attractive to the casuals.

    ...and then you see the price. Yeah, smart move!

  • symmetry #84 4 years ago

    Fuck that you money grabbing cunt stains.