Rock Band 3: Not This Year, Says Harmonix's Rigopulos

Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopulos has confirmed that 2009 will not see a new numbered installment in the Rock Band franchise, according to a report from consumer site Crispy Gamer, The Boston-based developer is instead concentrating on its previously-announced Beatles game, while taking time to innovate for Rock Band 3. Rigopulos was speaking as part of a Billboard "Digital Music Live" event during the CES show currently taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. "We’ve actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year," Rigopulos said [This is] partly because the annual cycle places limits on the choices you can make as a developer. We’re trying to take a long term view." This explains the company's choice to hold back on releasing Rock Band 3 this year. He noted that while EA would be happy with a new installment for 2009, "...they know how important this series is and they’re willing to give it the time it needs." Rigopulos refused to give a definitive answer on whether Rock Band 3 will support a keyboard controller, settling on a "maybe." The forthcoming Beatles game currently under development at Harmonix (and to be published by Rock Band publisher MTV Games in partnership with Electronic Arts) has no announced release date and is not part of the Rock Band series.