Stage Tour Confirms Holiday 2026 Launch on PS5, Xbox, PC
Rhythm gaming’s next big swing has a release window. Stage Tour, the new band-and-rockstar game from RedOctane Games, is officially locked in for a Holiday 2026 launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
The confirmation comes alongside a wave of fresh announcements from the studio, including a Dark Horse Comics tie-in, hands-on demos at San Diego Comic-Con, and an expanding soundtrack built to appeal to multiple generations of music fans.
A Comic Book Team-Up Expands Stage Tour’s Universe
Among the biggest reveals is an exclusive partnership with Dark Horse Comics, marking the first time Stage Tour’s world has been adapted into print. A special one-shot issue made its debut at SDCC 2026, expanding the lore behind the game’s bandmates and giving fans a new way to connect with the characters shaping the game’s story.
The comic features a stacked creative team: cover art by Kim Hu (“Rollerdrome,” “Killtopia: Nano Jams”), script by Zoe Tunnell (“Blade Maidens,” “Godzilla: Valentine’s Day Special”), art by Liana Kangas (“Know Your Station,” “TRVE KVLT”), colors by Diana Sousa (“Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins,” “Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures”), and lettering by Comicraft’s Tyler Smith (“Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories,” “Conan the Barbarian”).
The limited-edition issue was made available exclusively to SDCC attendees while supplies lasted and will later return as a free bonus collectible with future Stage Tour hardware bundle pre-orders.
“Stage Tour is about bringing people together through the shared experience and love of music,” said Jack Guinchard, head of marketing and brand at RedOctane Games. “Partnering with Dark Horse Comics allows us to expand the world of Stage Tour beyond the game itself, giving fans a fresh new way to connect with its bandmates through something exclusive that they can discover, collect, and share.”
Hands-On Demos, New Hardware, and a Growing Soundtrack
SDCC attendees got more than a first look — they got to play. A booth featuring custom-built arcade cabinets developed with Paradox Arcades let fans go hands-on with the game’s latest closed alpha build. The playable demo featured a selection of previously announced songs and reflected gameplay refinements shaped by feedback from IGN Live attendees and closed alpha testers.
Attendees also got an early look at the official Kramer Guitar Controller, with pre-production demo units on hand ahead of its planned release.
On the music front, Stage Tour has grown its officially licensed soundtrack to 16 confirmed tracks spanning rock, metal, alternative, pop-punk, and rising artists. The lineup includes Slipknot’s “Psychosocial,” Weezer’s “Island In The Sun,” Avril Lavigne’s “Bite Me,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Dani California,” Paramore’s “For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic,” and a genre-blending collaboration between BABYMETAL and Electric Callboy on “RATATATA,” among others.
Built around the fantasy of forming a band and becoming a rockstar, Stage Tour combines classic five-fret rhythm gameplay with modern progression and customization. Players can take the stage on guitar, bass, drums, or vocals using a guitar controller, drum kit controller, microphone, gamepad, or keyboard.
The development team includes veteran creators from Guitar Hero and DJ Hero, and the game is backed by a multi-year partnership with Gibson, bringing officially licensed Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer instruments into the experience.
With its Holiday 2026 window now confirmed across four platforms, Stage Tour joins a growing wave of titles betting that rhythm gaming’s audience never really left — it just needed a reason to plug back in. Fans can wishlist the game on Steam now, with additional pre-order and release details expected in the months ahead.
