Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
There simply isn’t a viable audience to bring Rock Band 4 and the Rock Band Network to PC at this time, Harmonix has concluded after failing to secure funding for the game on fig.
“We learned exactly what we needed to learn: there doesn’t seem to be enough of an audience to make Rock Band for PC a viable project for us right now,” wrote Harmonix in a closing statement on the fig campaign. “We’re committed to supporting and improving RB4 on consoles. To be clear, we raised nearly $800,000 via backers and investors; it’s an impressive showing of support from our community and for our brand.
“But as an independent developer we have to be careful about how much money and development time we risk on a project we’re not sure has a big enough audience, and crowdfunding allowed us to (among other things) judge the market fit for Rock Band PC.”
So could Rock Band eventually appear on PC?
“It’s certainly in the realm of possibility that we might try again in the future, or find another path to get Rock Band for PC made,” Harmonix said. “We love the PC as a platform, and we’re excited by the possibilities and freedom it allows for User Generated Content, but right now we don’t have any specific plans to make it happen.”
And what about Rock Band Network, the tool to allow users to create their own Rock Band compatible song. Could this return without the PC port being made?
“No,” said Harmonix. “Steam Workshop offered us a lot of infrastructure to make a new RBN possible. Without those systems RBN represents too much work for our console team right now, who already has a long list of priority features. We may revisit the idea in the future.”
Harmonix concluded: “Once again, we want to send a huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who supported us, said they were going to support us, talked about us to their friends, or even just told us what we were doing wrong (seriously). This campaign has been educational and informative for us on many levels, and we look forward to the next challenge with anticipation and joy. “
Source: fig
