Stage Tour now has a firm release date. RedOctane Games’ rhythm-action game launches on December 10, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The official pages also confirm more than 90 licensed songs at launch, four main modes, and support for guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboard, and gamepad play.
The project comes from a team with veterans of the original RedOctane, Neversoft, and Harmonix scene. That history explains the familiar note highway, but Stage Tour is not a new Guitar Hero game. It has its own name, its own studio, and a plan to keep adding songs after launch.
When does Stage Tour release?
Stage Tour launches December 10, 2026. The confirmed platforms are PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The game is already listed for wishlisting on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, while the official site is taking pre-orders for hardware bundles. Digital pre-orders are listed as coming later.
The launch date was shown during gamescom 2026, replacing the earlier “holiday 2026” window. That gives players a date to plan around, although the studio has not announced a price for the digital version on its main site.
The first 25 songs include a Shrek favorite
RedOctane has revealed 25 songs so far, with more announcements planned before release. The list moves between classic rock, metal, pop-punk, alternative, and newer acts. The announced tracks include “RATATATA” by BABYMETAL and Electric Callboy, Ghost’s “Square Hammer,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California,” Weezer’s “Island In The Sun,” Paramore’s “For A Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic,” Slipknot’s “Psychosocial,” The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” and Radiohead’s “Just.”
The newest reveal adds The Rolling Stones’ “In the Stars,” Muse’s “Starlight,” and Smash Mouth’s “All Star.” That last song will get an instant reaction from anyone who grew up with Shrek, even though Stage Tour is not presenting itself as a movie soundtrack game. The full launch soundtrack is expected to pass 90 songs, and the studio says more tracks will be added as downloadable content.
What can you play in Stage Tour?
The game supports Lead, Groove Guitar/Bass, Drums, Vocals, and two Arcade layouts. Lead covers the main musical line, while Groove handles the backing part. Drums use four pads and a kick pedal, with Pro Drums adding cymbal notes. Vocals work with a microphone, and Arcade 4-Lane or 5-Lane can be played with a standard controller or keyboard.
Quickplay lets one player or a group of up to four jump into a song. Judgements turns the same basic idea into an accuracy challenge, with scores based on how cleanly each note is hit. Karaoke removes the recorded vocals and lets the player sing without failing the song for missing a pitch.
Tour mode gives the game a run-based campaign
Tour mode is the feature that separates Stage Tour from a simple collection of songs. Each run uses roguelite rules: players choose effects pedals, buy upgrades with Stars, and move from small venues toward sold-out arenas. The choices change the route and the tools available during that run, so the mode is designed to be replayed rather than cleared once.
There is also a Practice mode for slower sessions. It is a useful addition for songs that look manageable on Easy and suddenly become a hand workout on Expert.
You may not need a new controller
RedOctane says it wants the entry point to stay open. Modern instruments such as CRKD guitars, the Riffmaster, and Rock Band 4 hardware are expected to work natively on the platforms they support. Older Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2 instruments may also work, but console players will usually need an adapter. PC is expected to support the widest range of legacy hardware.
The studio is also selling its own Kramer wireless guitar, drum kit, microphones, and larger bundles. The game remains playable with a normal controller or keyboard, so buying a plastic instrument is optional rather than a requirement.
The September beta is the next big test
Stage Tour has already run closed alpha sessions and plans a closed beta in September. The official FAQ says testers will be selected from the studio’s email list, but signing up does not guarantee an invitation. That test should answer practical questions the trailers cannot: how the note charts feel, how fast multiplayer connects, and whether Tour mode stays interesting after several runs.
The launch version is still being built. RedOctane has talked about seasonal content and live events, but it has not published a complete roadmap or the full 90-song list. Those details can change as the studio responds to testing.
Why rhythm-game fans are watching
Plastic-instrument rhythm games have been difficult to follow for years because the hardware is expensive, old, and often hard to replace. Stage Tour arrives with new controllers, keyboard support, cross-platform play, and a soundtrack that is already broad enough to move from The Cure to Smash Mouth without feeling like one narrow rock playlist.
The nostalgia is doing some of the marketing, but the game needs more than a familiar note highway to last. Tour mode, controller compatibility, and regular song updates are the parts that could turn a weekend throwback into a game people keep installed.
What remains unknown
The official pages currently give us the release date, platforms, 25 confirmed songs, and the main modes. They do not yet provide the complete soundtrack, a final digital price, detailed PC requirements, or a firm schedule for downloadable songs. The September beta should fill in some of those gaps before launch.
For now, Stage Tour has the basics in place: a December 10 release, more than 90 songs planned for day one, several ways to play, and a team that understands why people still miss this kind of game. It is not Guitar Hero returning under a new box. It is RedOctane trying to build a new version of the rhythm-game night.
