With Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard takeover reportedly closing on Friday, October 13 (spooky!), the rumour mill has been swirling about what’s next for the two gaming powerhouses.
Well, according to a report on Windows Central, Activision recently held an internal event hosted by James Corden of all people.
What Did Kotick Have to Say About Guitar Hero?
During this event, Kotick hinted at the direction the two companies will take when the acquisition concludes.
Much of it is PR guff, but one intriguing highlight was a suggestion by Kotick that a new Guitar Hero is in the works. Kotick’s direct quote is:
“The re-emergence of Guitar Hero and other things would not be possible without the different types of resources.”
What Resources?
These resources in question are what Microsoft looks set to bring to the table when the acquisition goes through.
In particular, Kotick highlighted the research and development that Microsoft works on internally.
The exact quote is a bit dull, but, in particular, Kotick is enthused about the AI, machine learning, and data analytics capabilites of Microsoft.
Neuralink – Ew!
Something that’s perhaps less exciting, is Kotick’s fascination with Elon Musk’s Neuralink technology. This allows you to interact with a game without the use of a controller.
While Kotick didn’t directly drop the bombshell that the next Guitar Hero will feature Neuralink technology, he did seem intrigued by the new control options it would introduce.
This could include an earpiece, headset, or another type of sensor. It’s entirely possible that this could have application in Guitar Hero. Perhaps we use air guitars instead of an actual guitar?
I Don’t Like the Sound of That For Guitar Hero!
Fundamentally though, it does sound less compelling than the classic Guitar Hero with its plastic guitar controls. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking that.
I would recommend reading Windows Central’s full report, linked in the second paragraph above. It’s a fantastic read with lots of little hints at the future of the two companies.
For more stories, check out our My Time at Sandrock news and Enshrouded, which looks awesome.
