When it comes to fast-and-furious rhythm games, although the genre never really took off in the West, there was one huge exception: Guitar Hero. Now, this legendary franchise is set to make a comeback, and it's heading to the mobile platform. However, the announcement has hit a sour note right from the start.
Activision's reveal of Guitar Hero Mobile was not through an exciting trailer or a detailed press release, but via an AI-generated promotional image shared on Instagram. This move has attracted significant criticism, especially given the recent controversy over the use of AI art in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. The use of seemingly outdated AI-generated art has overshadowed the excitement for the revival of this iconic series.
Details about what Guitar Hero Mobile will look and sound like are scarce. The franchise previously made it to mobile nearly 20 years ago, as shown below, so fans are hoping for a significant upgrade this time around.
Broken strings: The AI-generated art used in the announcement has been widely criticized for its poor quality, which may not have even utilized the latest image generators. This could spell trouble for Guitar Hero Mobile, especially with strong competition from games like Space Ape's popular BeatStar.
While the idea of Guitar Hero returning to mobile is thrilling and holds immense potential, Activision's use of AI art has unfortunately dampened the excitement. Despite the positives, the company has once again stepped into controversy.
In the meantime, if you're interested in seeing how other major franchises have fared on mobile, check out the top 9 Final Fantasy games available on smartphones.
