Rock Band 2 Xbox 360 bundle delayed until October 19, according to sources

Buh. So, this is getting confusing. According to sources over at ShackNews, the Rock Band 2 Special Edition bundle that was originally set to launch on September 14 exclusively on Xbox 360 will hit stores on October 19. For you fanboys keeping score, that's the same date that the game will hit for other consoles. It's still not clear if the game and instruments will still show up on retail shelves on September 14, but if you were looking to get your groove on in September, you may want to chill.

[Via Crunchgear]

[Stevo @ Aug 14th 2008 3:11AM]

Can't wait till the original Rockband come's out down under here in NZ, getting so keen for some party action.

[alloneword @ Aug 14th 2008 3:30AM]

Ditto for AU!

[Taylor @ Aug 14th 2008 6:48AM]

It's unfortunate that as Rock Band 2 comes out in the US, Aus and NZ only just get the original, but I really can't wait to play it.

Especially considering they share a DLC system...

[Luis @ Aug 14th 2008 4:16AM]

haha this is great news. I hate it that microsoft gets all these exclusive release dates on games that are being developed for multiple consoles. Its a way to boost their numbers up artificially. I don't remember Sony doing something like this in the current generation. As a playstation 3 owner I was bummed when I found out I would have to wait for a game that was being held back for no other reason then because microsoft paid for exclusive time.

[OfflinePK @ Aug 14th 2008 9:02AM]

Dude that's just the way the game goes. Microsoft can do anything it wants to stop the PS3 from gaining momentum in this current generation. You would have to be pretty naive to think that Sony wouldn't do the same thing if they were in MS's position right now. Bottom line is Sony put themselves in this position and they have been paying for it since the launch date. Just be thankful that the rest of this year and the beginning of 09 is looking good for the PS3.

[Cbirdsong @ Aug 14th 2008 6:14PM]

Harmonix has stated that this is simply because the 360 is lead SKU and can be done first. If Microsoft had paid for it, they would probably insist on at least holiday exclusivity and not merely a month or two, which probably isn't even worth paying for.

[Larsen @ Aug 14th 2008 4:25AM]

I hope the game will be region code free so we Europeans don't get f'd in the a again... but I guess chances are slim. I'd just like to buy the game and use the old gear. Don't want to spend big cash again since the old stuff's supposed to work with the new game.

[kolizz @ Aug 14th 2008 4:42AM]

As far as I know the bundle never was to be released in September. The game disc for the Xbox 360 will still be released September 14th. The bundle for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 will be released October 19th and the game disc for the PS3 will be released November 30th. This has, I think, been the same since the beginning. All dates are according to http://www.rockbandstore.com/index.php?v=rbs_rock_the_game_rock_band_2 . There you got it :).

[simplisticton @ Aug 14th 2008 8:12AM]

Ditto -- that's what I thought too. And since the Guitar Hero: World Tour seems to have the better (or at least more innovative) instruments, I'm thinking I would probably end up buying the RB2 disc and the GH:WT bundle anyway. Of course, that's assuming the GH:WT instruments work with RB2 as well as RB1. Activision has said that they'll be compatible with RB1, but the haven't explicitly stated they'll work with RB2 yet. But even if they don't, I still have the RB1 instruments that will be fully functional with RB2, even if they're not quite as cool.

[kolizz @ Aug 14th 2008 9:17AM]

I'm not that impressed with GH: WT's "innovations" so I'm still hanging on with Rock Band looking forward to a, from what I've seen, extremely polished game. After all, I think what Microsoft did by coughing up money was making their release date earlier, not the PS3's release date later. No problem waiting when I got the awesome original RB playing meanwhile ;).

[Orions @ Aug 14th 2008 5:47AM]

At first I was pissed, but considering that the mike is apparently completely the same, I see no reason to buy the whole thing. I just want to know if the guitar and the drum set will be available for purchase. I sent in my drums because the damn yellow pad stopped working and the instructions in the box told me to send the stand as well, so what do they send me back? Just the pads, no stand. I asked them to send me a stand well over a month ago at this point, and I don't know if it got lost or what (to be fair, I haven't checked with EA), but haven't received a damn thing.

Anyway, I was looking forward to the new hopefully more reliable set, and the hopefully more reliable guitar, but without the "Special Edition," I see no reason to buy anything other than the game and the drum set, MAYBE the guitar. I've just had too many problems with their peripherals.

[Antimatter @ Aug 14th 2008 9:50AM]

From the source:

"While the Rock Band 2 game and individual instruments are set for an exclusive Xbox 360 release on September 14, it now appears that Harmonix's Special Edition bundle will not make it to stores until October 19, a full month later."

And you people call yourselves a blog.

[Antimatter @ Aug 14th 2008 9:53AM]

And by source I mean the source of Engadget's source.

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/54165

[dex @ Aug 14th 2008 6:20PM]

Way to do your research, engadget. This info was on GameStop.com July 15th:

Xbox 360 owners will get the first crack at Rock Band 2 when the stand-alone game releases September 14, with the Special Edition Bundle following on October 19. PS3 owners will get their chance with both the game and the bundle on October 19. Wii and PS2 owners will have to wait until November 18. Pre-order online now or reserve at your local GameStop.


JULY FIFTEENTH. This news is OLD. And how is the 360 bundle delayed when it is coming out October 19th, and was always set to come out October 19th? According to my math, it's right on schedule

[aaron @ Sep 10th 2008 8:31PM]

Rock Band WILL release on September 14th as scheduled for the Xbox 360. Microsoft gets a 1 month exclusive. It was 1 week orginally, but Microsoft wanted more time. Whoever supplied you with that info wasnt listening very well.