Rock Band 4 Coming To Next-Gen Consoles

Time to head up to the loft and dig out the old plastic axe - Rock Band 4 is set to bring instrumental button-bashing to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Initially a spin-off from the lounge-cluttering Guitar Hero series, Rock Band first arrived on consoles in 2007, allowing four players to clack, tap and squeal their way through an eclectic music library. Release in 2010, its third band simulating instalment ushered in a close of the first great rhythm-playing age of gaming, with subsequent music packs and controller-based titles failing to gain big numbers in a saturated market.

But now, with a new cluster of muscular consoles squatting under the world's TVs, developer Harmonix believes the time is ripe for a new round of four-player music pretence. 

Compatible with 2,168 songs released for previous titles and - more importantly - the buttoned instruments released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Harmonix promises that its new Rock Band title will focus on that magical feeling of playing in a full four-piece band. 

Due to arrive before the end of the year, Harmonix has released images of its new guitar and drums, along with a madcap "behind the scenes" video that shows what a lovely bunch they really are. 

Or you could just buy a guitar and actually learn to play the thing for real. Your call.