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It has been two decades after the legendary game debuted across the Atlantic, giving players everywhere the opportunity to become rock legends. Not in reality, but try convincing anyone who's nailed the epic lengthy guitar solo in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends.

Created by Harmonix, Guitar Hero gave players a guitar-shaped controller to match on-screen cues moving along the screen synchronized to the music. Every sequence mimicked particular chords, producing the feel of an authentic live show.

Harmonix previously tried its hand in the music genre before partnering with the publisher, later acquired by Activision in 2006. Together, they laid the foundations for a surprising billion-dollar franchise that had a significant influence on numerous musicians featured, introducing classic bands to a new generation of younger players.

Michael Dornbrook, ex-chief operating officer of Harmonix, recalls the initial financial challenges of licensing the songs – despite the fact the first two games primarily featured cover versions.

“We reproduced every song because the dollar figure prohibitive,” he explains. “Despite having the publishing rights by themselves, it was extremely difficult. We failed to secure acts such as legendary groups – the publisher had virtually no money, and we were fairly certain the project would flop. However, when the game took off, album purchases airtime increased, all artists desired to participate.”

He adds: “One of the remarkable aspects was how many mothers and fathers got in touch and thanked us for exposing their kids to the songs they adored. It evolved into a multigenerational thing.”

Classic Rock Gains a New Audience

Northern Irish blues-rock band the Answer included Never Too Late on the 2008 game the popular installment. Lead musician the artist remembers the way the game brought classic rock to the forefront: “The game offered a bigger, new demographic. Typically this had been seen as outdated material, but then once it got included in the title young people discovered it, suddenly it became trendy. That legitimised the genre, and got rid of the ‘dad rock’ tag. It provided our catalog a new life.”

At that time, the Answer’s debut album remained unreleased stateside, meaning Guitar Hero was a key medium of discovery for the group as they went on a North American tour opening for AC/DC. “Their crew had on the song on the tour bus, and some of them recognized us thanks to the game,” Mahon says.

Rock’s Heavyweight Titles and Lasting Impact

Rock’s biggest acts soon capitalised on the game's success, with Aerosmith, Metallica and others starring in dedicated spin-off titles centered around each band’s catalogue and related stories, imagery and rock’n’roll mythology. In the case of, Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, reportedly earned the group greater revenue compared to their records. It moved more than half a million units upon release, and demand for their songs rose of up to 40% during an era as the industry faced decline.

Guitar Hero continues to inspire quick-handed dedication within the community. Earlier this year, an online personality completed an impressive attempt featuring Through the Fire and Flames – an infamously tough power-metal song popularized through Guitar Hero – on Clone Hero, a no-cost alternative with similar mechanics and extensive personalization features. This track is difficult even in expert mode, let alone played at double speed and without missing every one of the thousands of cues. The streamer claimed it took nine months of practice.

“The game offers a, fantasy thing. Just as with Call of Duty, it doesn't imply you ought to use a real gun and go to war,” says DragonForce guitarist Herman Li.

The band previously completed a profitable run before Through the Fire and Flames appeared on Guitar Hero III, but Li says it made them a household name. “I remember our distributors informing us that our records were moving rapidly,” he shares. “Popularity surged when we next toured, and we were playing just before the headliners on the Mayhem festival.”

In fact, the band's visibility from Guitar Hero proved so vast that it has risked eclipsing everything else accomplishments. Last year, the song featured in promotional material for a major film. “In the past I thought otherwise, but I’ve made peace with it,” he admits. “If you only hear a single track, that's fine – everyone’s got a unique path in music and I’m glad we played a role in fans' experiences”.

The Lasting Legacy of a Iconic Controller

Top-tier promotion, be it for cars, apparel or video games, goes further than selling something – it evokes a desire. Did Guitar Hero harness this? “That’s exactly what our team aiming to achieve,” he confirms. “The excitement of performing as a rock star in the spotlight. Since the beginning, the creators felt that humans have a natural urge to create songs, and they wanted to use technology to allow people to participate”.

Most installments were released over a mere five-year period from 2005 to 2010, including spin-offs such as DJ Hero, including a spinning deck, and Band Hero. After that, corporate focus in plastic instruments died down, except for a short-lived revival several years later.

Games like Clone Hero and newer releases have kept the scene active, with set to be something from the original publisher in development. A new studio has begun production on its debut music game. The initial creators are participating in advisory roles. Is the world ready to embrace a new entry following the classic?

“Our team believed those games might become like Madden allowing annual releases,” Dornbrook says. “With abundant fresh tracks that it could be perennially popular, thus I remain hopeful. There’s no reason for it to continue with new generations.”