Neversoft's Guitar Hero IV (PS3, PS2, X360, Wii) will feature custom song creation and multiple instruments when it arrives this fall, according to the June issue of Game Informer magazine.

As relayed by trustworthy NeoGAF user SolidSnakeX, the fourth Guitar Hero title will expand the series' offerings to include drum and vocal gameplay in addition to bass and guitar. It is not known if the controllers for Harmonix's multi-instrument music title Rock Band will be compatible.

The song creation functionality will somehow allow users to customize everything but vocals, though the specifics of this remain unclear. Users will... Read more

Fearless Records has announced that progressive rock band At the Drive-In will be contributing a song to an upcoming Guitar Hero title, most likely Neversoft's Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

A press release issued by the record label stated that "One Armed Scissor" from the band's third album "Relationship of Command" will make an appearance in Guitar Hero IV alongside Aerosmith and Def Leppard. The label noted that the game is aimed for a release this June on "all major platforms including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, PC, Mac, and Nintendo DS."

However, publisher and property owner Activision has not yet officially announced Guitar Hero IV, though Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PS2, PS3, X360, Wii) has ... Read more

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said that the fourth installment of Neversoft's Guitar Hero franchise will incorporate additional instruments similar to competitor Harmonix's Rock Band (PS2, PS3, Wii, X360).

"[Guitar Hero IV's] not just about guitars," Kotick told IGN. "We'll include a lot of other instruments, vocals. It will help us expand internationally. It's the first game we've had in which we can use local content and local bands."

The runaway success of the multi-instrument rhythm game Rock Band, which includes drums and vocals on top of guitars, had led many to speculate that the traditionally guitar-only Guitar Hero franchise would eventually see the addition of more instruments.

Guitar Hero IV is expected for release this fall, as the third Guitar Hero title announced by Activision for release in 2008. The first two were announced as Guitar Hero: On Tour and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

It appears that British metal group Def Leppard may have up to three songs in the upcoming music-rhythm title Guitar Hero IV.

"We're going to have, like, three songs, I think, on Guitar Hero IV," guitarist Phil Collen said on Rockline Radio. "I think Photograph, Animal, and Rock of Ages."

While Guitar Hero IV has yet to be officially announced, franchise owner Activision previously confirmed it is a prepping a new Guitar Hero title for this fall, with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PS2, PS3, X360, Wii) and Guitar Hero: On Tour (NDS) due this summer.