The Rock Band series of music video games supports downloadable songs for the Xbox 360,
PlayStation 3, and Wii versions through the consoles' respective online services. Such
downloadable content comes from two sources; Harmonix typically provides three to six new
tracks per week available to all consoles as listed below, and artists and authoring
groups can submit their own tracks for peer review through the Rock Band Network.
Players can download songs on a track-by-track basis, with many of the tracks also offered
as part of a "song pack" or complete album, usually at a discounted rate. Tracks released
for Rock Band 2 on the Wii platform are only available as singles while Rock Band 3 offers
multi-song packs as well as singles. Since on-disc songs are not available for download,
some albums are incomplete. For example, the album Blood Sugar Sex Magik is available for
download, which contains the song "Give it Away" on Rock Band 2 and Blitz, so the downloadable
album does not include "Give it Away". Most downloadable songs are playable within
every game mode, including the Band World Tour career mode. All downloadable songs released
prior to October 26, 2010 are cross-compatible among Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band 3,
and Rock Band Blitz while those after only work with Rock Band 3 and Rock Band Blitz.
Also, certain pre-Rock Band 3 songs deemed "suitable for all ages" by Harmonix are also
available for use in Lego Rock Band. The Wii version of Rock Band does not support
downloadable content; however, Rock Band 2 and Rock Band 3 do, with DLC first made available
in January 2009. Harmonix has said it will continue to release songs from the back catalog
of downloadable content each week for Wii until all songs are available, and starting
in March 2009, is making new DLC available for Wii at the same time as Xbox 360 and PlayStation
3. All songs are available for download on Wii unless otherwise noted.
After more than 5 years of uninterrupted DLC releases, Harmonix released its last official
DLC song, Don McLean's "American Pie", on April 2, 2013. Although no new DLC will be
scheduled for release after that date, Harmonix did not rule out the possibility of releasing
DLC in the future should the right opportunity arise. Rock Band Network content will continue
to be released on the Xbox 360 platform for the foreseeable future, so long as the third
party technologies behind the RBN remain supported; however, ports to the PlayStation 3 have ended
on April 2, 2013 along with regular DLC.
Pricing Individual songs are usually priced at either
US$1.99GB£0.99, or US$1.00GB£0.59, with a few exceptions priced at GB£1.19 or GB£1.49/€1.99;
all are available for download through PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and the Wii's online service
unless otherwise noted. In the US, some downloadable songs have been available for the discounted
US$0.99 price for a limited time before being raised to the standard price. Since September
18, 2012, all songs released prior to Rock Band 3's launch have been reduced to US$1.00.
The price for downloadable albums and song packs varies, according to how many songs
are on the album or pack. Song packs containing three songs usually cost US$5.49, while song
packs containing six songs cost US$9.99. Since the introduction of PRO instruments,
extra pricing may be necessary. "Subdivisions" by Rush was the first song to make an extra
upgrade appearance in the Rock Band Music Store. In order to receive the PRO guitar
and bass play, one must pay an additional US$1.00GB£0.59 unless otherwise noted.
Complete list of available songs The following songs have been released for
the Rock Band games. All songs available in packs are also available as individual song
downloads on the same date, unless otherwise noted. As of May 4, 2010 new songs are released
on Tuesdays across all participating consoles. Dates listed are the initial release of songs
on Xbox Live. Starting May 20, 2008, all downloadable songs are available in both the North American
and European markets, unless noted. Some songs released before Rock Band 3 have
been retrofitted to include Rock Band 3 features, including backing vocals, and the ability
to buy an additional pack for Pro Guitar/Bass charts without having to buy the "RB3 Version"
of the song. Certain songs have been marked "family friendly" by Harmonix; such songs
released before Rock Band 3 '​s launch on October 26, 2010 can be played in Lego
Rock Band. Starting October 26, 2010, all new songs are
only playable in Rock Band 3, due to a change in the file format. All songs released via
downloadable content are playable in Rock Band 3, and support its new Pro Drum mode.
Most songs released for Rock Band 3 include core features for keyboards, Pro Keyboards,
and backing vocals in the core song, where they are appropriate. Additionally, some of
these songs features charts for Pro Guitar and Bass that can also be purchased.
On occasion, Harmonix has to remove certain songs from the Rock Band Music Store, primarily
due to licensing issues. Similar to most music licensing agreements, Rock Band’s DLC licenses
have fixed terms on how long content can be sold on the platform, with the licenses for
Rock Band's earliest DLC reaching their expiry date. Harmonix announced that they will attempt
to renew their license agreements, promising to give players advance notice if certain
songs cannot be relicensed and must be removed. Songs removed from the Rock Band Music Store
are no longer available for new purchasers; however, players who purchased content prior
to its removal from the store would not be affected in their ability to use the content.
Exported set lists In 2008, Harmonix began to offer owners of
Rock Band games for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 the option of integrating songs from various
titles in the series for use in other Rock Band games. With Rock Band 3, Wii players
are also able to export songs; however, only Green Day: Rock Band and Rock Band 2 can be
exported, and song files are downloaded individually. 55 of 58 songs from Rock Band can be exported
to Rock Band 2 & Rock Band 3 after purchasing a license for US$4.99. In the European version,
63 of 67 songs can be exported to Rock Band 2 while 61 can be exported to Rock Band 3.Each
song is stored as an individual file, allowing the user to delete unwanted songs.
"Enter Sandman", "Paranoid", "Run to the Hills" and "Monsoon" cannot be exported to any other
game. "Rock and Roll Star" and "Hier kommt Alex"
are exportable in Rock Band 2 but not Rock Band 3. Additionally, the DLC versions of
these songs are unavailable in Rock Band 3. "Dani California" and "Black Hole Sun" were
initially not compatible with Rock Band 3 until the release of a November 8, 2011 title
update for the game.
The following Rock Band Track Packs can be exported to the main games on the Xbox 360
and PlayStation 3 for no additional cost using a one-time code printed on the back of the
game's manual. Later Track Packs contained songs which were exclusive to the Track Pack
disc for a limited time before being released as DLC.
AC/DC Live Track Pack Vol. 2
Classic Rock Track Pack Country Track Pack
Metal Track Pack Country Track Pack 2
All 45 songs from Lego Rock Band can be exported to the main games on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation
3 after purchasing an Export License for US$9.99 using a unique code printed on the game's
manual. All 44 tracks from Green Day: Rock Band can
be exported after purchasing an Export License for US$9.99 using a unique code printed on
the game's manual. Pre-ordering the game at certain retailers allowed owners to waive
this fee. The fee is also waived if one purchased the "Plus" edition of the game.
79 of 84 songs from Rock Band 2 can be exported to Rock Band 3 after purchasing an Export
License for US$9.99.70 songs are offered in the initial export package, downloaded as
a large single file for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions and as individual song files on
the Wii. The 9 songs from Harmonix-based bands are
not available in the initial export package; however, these songs are offered at no cost
in the "Rock Band Free 01" pack released on January 4, 2011; this song pack is not available
for Wii users. "Battery", "Give It Away", "Spoonman", "Any
Way You Want It" and "Let There Be Rock" are not available for export; however, "Give It
Away" and "Spoonman" are featured as part of the Rock Band Blitz soundtrack, and the
two songs were also later released as individual downloads.
The export for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions requires the use of the unique
code printed on the back of the Rock Band 2 instruction manual in order to attain an
export key; this is the same code used for the redemption of the 20 bonus downloadable
songs that were released shortly after Rock Band 2's launch. EA support will accommodate
users who may have lost their previous code. On the Wii version, instead of redeeming a
code to attain an export key, players only need to have a Rock Band 2 save file present.
All 25 songs from Rock Band Blitz are integrated into Rock Band 3 for no additional cost.
Promotions Following the release of Rock Band, Harmonix
and EA began to form partnerships with different companies and bands to provide promotional
content. Harmonix Pack 01 was first released as part
of a bonus disc included with the February 2008 issue of Official Xbox Magazine.
"Inside the Fire" and "Indestructible" were offered at no cost in June 2008 to customers
who preordered the band's album Indestructible through Best Buy's online store.
Crüe Fest Pack 01 was handed out as a prize in Stride's Ridiculously Long Lasting Rock
Band Off, held in June 2008. On November 6, 2008 Harmonix began distributing
20 free downloadable songs to owners of Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
The song pack could only be downloaded after redeeming a code printed inside the game's
manual. These songs were released to the Wii as free downloads on January 13, 2009, and
could be found in the Rock Band Music Store. Harmonix has made no announcement regarding
plans to release these songs through the Music Store for the 360 or PS3. This content is
playable in Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and Rock Band 3 for the 360 and PS3, with some of the
content also playable in Lego Rock Band. Wii owners can only use this content in Rock Band
2 and Rock Band 3. Beginning on March 24, 2009, Best Buy customers
who purchased the specially-marked deluxe editions of Pearl Jam's Ten, received a promotional
code that could be redeemed to download two additional live tracks, as well as a studio
version of "Brother". These songs were released to the XBLM and PSN during the week of June
22, 2009. They were released for the Wii the following week.
Beginning March 31, 2009, Rock Band owners who purchased specially-marked copies of Spectacular!
on DVD received promotional codes which could be redeemed to download the songs "Break My
Heart" and "Don't Tell Me" from the film's soundtrack.
Target offered a version of Pearl Jam's Backspacer which includes a copy of the album for use
in Rock Band games. It was released alongside the standard edition of the album in September
2009. Best Buy offered limited editions of Brütal
Legend which included a code to redeem for the Brütal Legend Track Pack. The song pack
was released to the Rock Band Music Store on the same day.
A listing on the Canadian website for GameStop and the UK website HMV includes a trio of
songs to be handed out to customers who pre-order Rock Band 3. Songs in this pack include "Burning
Down the House" from Talking Heads, "Blue Monday" from New Order, and "My Own Summer"
by Deftones. This was later confirmed in a Joystiq report.
Notes
References
External links Official Rock Band series song list - Additional
information for all songs featured in the Rock Band series.