HardwareGaming ControllersI couldn’t be more excited for PDP’s new Guitar Hero-like PS5 controllerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareGaming ControllersI couldn’t be more excited for PDP’s new Guitar Hero-like PS5 controllerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: PDP)
It’s been a big week for controller brand PDP. Not only did its Victrix Pro BFG Xbox Series X gamepad get a February release window, but the brand has also just revealed that it’ll be making the very first guitar controller for PS5 and Xbox Series X.
PDP’s new controller, called the RIFFMASTER Wireless Guitar, is a Guitar Hero-like accessory that officially works with Rock Band 4, but has “anticipated compatibility” with Fortnite Festival when controller support is added. Hilariously, Rock Band 4 is a 2015 game originally launched on PS4 and Xbox One in the same year as Guitar Hero Live, the last entry that franchise has seen.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero had some truly great peripherals, but PDP seems to have found ways to improve on them. For starters, it has a wireless connection and a battery life that lasts 36 hours - even most of thebest PC controllerscould never.
It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a joystick on the guitar’s neck to help you navigate in-game menus and console UI, and folds down at the base of the neck so you can take it on the go or store it away neatly.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a couple of Guitar Hero controllers sitting around that are nice to look at but are functionally useless because their USB dongles have gone missing. The new PDP RIFFMASTER has a slot under its removable faceplate to hold and protect your USB dongle.
Annoyingly, the price and release date are to be determined, although we know it should hit the shelves at some point in the Spring. The fact it’s officially licensed for both PS5 and as anXbox Series X controlleris no short of a miracle but isn’t all that surprising when PDP managed the same feat for theVictrix Pro BFG, our top pick for PS5 which is available forpre-order on Xbox now.
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(Image credit: PDP)
Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited about this. In the last few days before this news broke, I was thinking of writing a retrospective feature all about why Guitar Hero Guitars are some of my favorite gaming controllers of all time. While that type of rhythm game has seemed dead in the water for years, Fortnite Festival and a new licensed controller may say otherwise.
Will we see a revival of rock-based rhythm games? Could we get modern-day remasters of classics like Guitar Hero 3? Famously, this was a difficult genre forActivisionto maintain, not least because paying for music licensing probably cost an arm and a leg.
Fortnite Festival does seem promising, especially seeing asEpic Gamesacquired the old developer of the Rockband games, Harmonic. WithMicrosoftfinally completing its purchase of Activision Blizzard, however, might this be an exciting new dawn for both franchises?
Today’s best controller dealsVictrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all pricesSony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all pricesXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all pricesGameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best controller dealsVictrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all pricesSony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all pricesXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all pricesGameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best controller dealsVictrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all pricesSony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all pricesXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all pricesGameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best controller deals
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all pricesSony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all pricesXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all pricesMicrosoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all pricesGameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all prices
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all prices
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller$174ViewSee all prices
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller
Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller
$174View
$174
$174
See all prices
Sony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all prices
Sony DualSense Edge Controller$199.99ViewSee all prices
Sony DualSense Edge Controller
Sony DualSense Edge Controller
$199.99View
$199.99
$199.99
See all prices
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all prices
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2$119.99ViewSee all prices
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2
$119.99View
$119.99
$119.99
See all prices
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all prices
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless$97.99ViewSee all prices
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless
Microsoft Xbox Elite Wireless
$97.99View
$97.99
$97.99
See all prices
GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all prices
GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller$44.99$39.99ViewSee all prices
GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller
GameSir G7 SE Wired Controller
$44.99$39.99View
$44.99$39.99
$39.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Looking for more situational controllers to use in simulation games? Grab thebest joysticks, thebest racing wheels for PC, and thebest Xbox steering wheels.
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
5
Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
1
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”