Rock Band was one of the most popular music and rhythm games, especially in the 2000s and 2010s. Since Rock Band 5 may release in 2025, many fans of the game are playing the older Rock Band games in anticipation of the newest release.
If you wanted to grab a copy of Rock Band, you might be wondering why Rock Band is so expensive. I did some digging, and here is what I learned!
Why Is Rock Band So Expensive?
Rock Band is expensive because the older versions of Rock Band were discontinued, making the demand for the older games rise. Rock Band is also costly because the developers spent a lot of money to make Rock Band. Moreover, specific bundles come with various playable instruments you can use to play the game.
Do you want to find out more facts about what affects the price of Rock Band? I made a list of information below, so keep reading!
1. Available On Various Consoles
One of the reasons why Rock Band is expensive is that you can play it on various devices and consoles.
For instance, you can play Rock Band on iOS phones, Nintendos, PlayStations, Xboxes, PSPs, etc.
Also, since Rock Band is available to play on many platforms, it costs more to develop.
Usually, developers would have had to adjust the game to be playable on each platform, which means the game will become more expensive due to higher labor costs.
2. Not In Production
Another primary reason Rock Band is so expensive is that not all versions of Rock Band are being made anymore.
So, since there are newer editions and a potential new game being released in 2025, many of the older Rock Bands have been discontinued.
For example, according to many fans, Rock Band 3 is one of the best versions of Rock Band.
However, Rock Band 3 was discontinued in 2015 to make way for Rock Band 4, which meant there was only a limited supply of Rock Band 3.
That said, this is especially true for the older versions of Rock Band 1 and Rock Band 2 since these games can still be played.
Normally, people who want these versions will need to spend hours looking for original copies. For instance, Rock Band 4 is still being sold worldwide, so Rock Band 4 is not that expensive.
However, Rock Band 4 for the X1 is much more expensive than the PS4 and PS5 because Rock Band 4 is no longer being made for the X1.
3. High Demand
Since Rock Band was released in 2007 as a huge hit, Rock Band has accumulated millions of fans worldwide.
Also, even if there is no new version of Rock Band, many people still want to play it, causing a high demand for Rock Band games.
That said, this means that any Rock Band games being sold online tend to be more expensive. Moreover, older Rock Band games that are no longer being made will be more expensive.
4. Licensing Deals
One of the main features of the Rock Band game is that you get to listen to music by real artists, giving the players a pleasant audio experience while playing.
However, many of the songs in Rock Band are made by famous artists, which means that Rock Band’s developer Harmonix had to pay for the music.
Typically, people will have to pay for licensing deals to use the artist’s music legally. Usually, bigger artists will have to be paid more since more people will know their music.
Further, some examples of bands found in Rock Band are Smashing Pumpkins, Queens of the Stone Age, Soundgarden, Ramones, Kiss, Nirvana, and other notable names.
Currently, it is not known what type of deal Harmonix uses to pay artists since the agreements can vary.
For instance, no one knows if Harmonix has to pay a one-time licensing fee to use the artist’s music or if it needs to pay the artist each time it uses the music in new games.
5. Nostalgia
Rock Band was made in the late 2000s to cater to young audiences, many of whom are adults now.
Generally, many of these adults miss playing Rock Band and are more willing to pay for an expensive Rock Band game for nostalgic purposes.
6. Well-Made Game
It is worth noting that games like Rock Band are not easy to make. For example, each Rock Band game took years to complete,
Usually, developing games like Rock Band involves having large teams of designers working tirelessly to perfect the game.
For instance, it was estimated that Rock Band took around $200 million to create.
Plus, it took roughly 20 months to make Rock Band, which will add to the overall price of Rock Band games.
Therefore, the developers of Rock Band had to make significant investments in developing Rock Band.
Also, these developers will have to make Rock Band expensive to make a profit from the games.
7. Bundle Editions
Typically, copies of Rock Band tend to be more expensive when you buy a bundle edition.
Normally, you can buy the standalone game of Rock Band 4 for around $60, whereas bundled versions can reach up to $130-150.
That said, the bundle editions contain more items that you can use to play the game.
For example, the Rock Band 4 Band-in-a-Box Bundle is the standard Rock Band 4 game with a microphone, drum kit, and guitar.
Moreover, the cost of the bundle of Rock Band games will depend on what Rock Band you are buying.
For example, buying a Rock Band bundle with the game Rock Band 2 will cost more than the bundle for Rock Band 4 since Rock Band 2 is rare.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Switch games are so expensive, why Earthbound is so expensive, and why Wii games are so expensive.
Conclusion
Rock Band is expensive because most of the older versions of Rock Band are not being made anymore.
Therefore, any Rock Band games in circulation are in high demand, which makes resellers make them more expensive.
Moreover, Rock Band games are very difficult and costly to make. Plus, Rock Band games sold in bundles that come with instruments are more expensive than standalone game copies.