Rock Band 2 drums up Euro release date

Software to be available for Xbox 360 from November 14; other platform release dates not yet confirmed.

European gamers may be forgiven for thinking that multi-instrument music games are taking on some bus-like characteristics; having waited years for one, several are now coming along at once.

Rock Band was released in the region for the Xbox 360 in May, several months after its US release (nearly a year later in the case of the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and Wii versions, which belatedly became available in September). Guitar Hero: World Tour launches on November 7, and after some confusion yesterday, it has now been confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of Rock Band 2 will be shipping in Europe a week later on November 14. The game will be available in the UK from November 21.

The Xbox 360 will have an "exclusive launch window" for Harmonix' latest offering, but the length of this period has not been specified. The software will launch with a recommended retail price tag of £49.99 in the UK, and €69.99 for continental Europe. According to a statement from MTV Games, Harmonix, and EA, the "stand-alone hardware" will make its way to shops in early December. No pricing for the Rock Band 2-specific hardware was announced, but is likely to be more than the original Rock Band hardware bundle, which still has an RRP of £130 in the UK.

Rock Band 2 adds features, such as a no-fail mode, a drum trainer, and a fill trainer, as well as over 80 tracks. The game is also compatible with most songs from the Rock Band soundtrack. For more information on Rock Band 2, and to listen to many of the featured songs, see GameSpot's launch centre.

26 Comments

  • hannify

    Posted Jan 18, 2009 10:59 am PT

    I wish the title would be changed since drums up make it sounds like the Rock band 2 Drums themselves have a release date --- poor choice of words i think

  • lewis2112

    Posted Dec 27, 2008 6:50 pm PT

    i like rock band over guitar hero, but at least guitar her, treats EU customers like people

  • marud_9403

    Posted Dec 26, 2008 8:16 am PT

    When will it be out on the PS3 in europe?
    I live in Norway and have waited a long time for this game and have read several places that it would come out before christmas in Europe.. Now it is December 26 and still no Rock Band 2 So do anyone know when it will be released??

  • senorbusyman

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 5:35 pm PT

    thank god i dont live in europe!

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 9:04 pm PT

    Another year of wait for NZ...

  • hannify

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    Like it how price is still over priced...

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 6:38 am PT

    Brilliant. I was getting a bit worried they might not have released it before Xmas but this is good news. It's a bit puzzling releasing it 2 weeks after GH:WT. Couldn't they have released it on the same day? Music games are pretty expensive and I don't want Rock Band 2 missing out on some of the spotlight because Guitar Hero got there first.

  • ackpack

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 4:54 am PT

    Harmonix is in Bed with Microsoft that's why PS3 owners get the shaft.....why else would virtually the same game have to wait a month. Also all of the updates usually are slower to come out on PS3....and this is not to start a console war...but it's the truth.

  • smarb001

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 3:53 am PT

    YES!Finally! But I will still have to wait another month

  • tylea002

    Posted Oct 30, 2008 2:17 am PT

    Wow we get it! Wow, we're still forced to pay much more. I was hoping on getting this over GHWT, with the RB2 instruments, and I want the instruments to be affordable.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 8:13 pm PT

    Wow every system gets the shaft but the 360

  • BOZ_10

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    what about Australia?

  • Dark_Dude_98

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 3:01 pm PT

    World Tour has been pushed back in the UK atleast to the 14th which explains why it's going to be out a week later in the UK.

  • TestamentUK

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:38 pm PT

    With the price, the delay between us and the US getting the game, the 'exclusive launch window' which doesn't benefit any group of people who would potentially buy the game as far as I can see (if there is one, please correct me on this statement) adds up to the same reasons why I didn't buy the first one.

    Looks like I won't be getting this one either then, although by the time it arrives on PS3 here the focus will probably be on RB3 anyway. I'm sure I can't be the only one that feels this way either. GH:WT it is then. Thanks for helping me decide Harmonix!

  • MonkeyWrench127

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 2:15 pm PT

    Yes... no I gotta decide whether its the GHWT instruments or RB2 instruments, cuz both are looking frickin sweet

  • XoXGamer4lyfXoX

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 1:14 pm PT

    cooliooo

  • Caddy06_88 Site moderator

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 11:42 am PT

    Yay! This is great news!

  • BadMax23

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 10:59 am PT

    The wait for UK is over, but the instruments are a whole other story

  • Whellock

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 10:42 am PT

    Holy Good God! Guitar Hero: World Tour on November 7th and a week later Rock Band 2 on November 14th in Europe. That's the same day Wii Music comes out in Europe what a massive surprise for those titles this coming Christmas.

  • Martin-2-5-9

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 10:12 am PT

    Finally. I have been waiting so badly for it to come in UK. Thank god.

  • anticap

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 10:12 am PT

    I'll be getting this and Guitar Hero World Tour next payday.

  • fenwickhotmail

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 10:11 am PT

    Probably get it for xmas. Too much cash for someone like me.

  • dab198 Site moderator

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 9:41 am PT

    Good release date; just in time for payday.

  • solidgamer

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 9:31 am PT

    lol like the intro

  • LozzaGS GameSpot staff member

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 8:02 am PT

    Good point. It's shipping in Europe from the 14th, but I've updated to specify the UK date.

  • wonderboy_46

    Posted Oct 29, 2008 7:50 am PT

    The press release says November 21st for the UK, not the 14th.

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