Mobile Guitar Hero Advertisement Showcases Distinct AI Art on Instagram

Recently, a new title for ‘Guitar Hero Mobile’ popped up on Activision’s official Instagram account, and while it has been removed, you can still find it with a specific link. This advertisement features some striking AI-generated artwork and claims that a new Guitar Hero Mobile game will launch in 2025.

Fans were quick to express their disappointment over the use of AI art in the promotion, which clearly overpowers the nostalgic spirit of the Guitar Hero franchise. This isn’t the first instance of Activision facing backlash for using AI-generated art in their games.

Play Your Way

On Instagram, Activision introduced Guitar Hero Mobile with the tagline:

“Play your way – Guitar Hero goes mobile.”

The artwork accompanying the ad appears to be distinctly AI-created, raising questions about the creative effort involved in the project. The image features a band on stage with a strikingly simple layout, where a typical Guitar Hero prompt bar sits below them. However, the scene depicted is unusual—there are four guitarists, but no drummer or vocalist, and the prompt bar has only two blue paths.

This odd design choice has led some to feel disconnected from what originally made Guitar Hero exciting. It feels almost as if the design team intentionally wanted to provoke a negative reaction from long-time fans of the series.

In a discussion last September, Phil Spencer, a notable figure in the gaming industry, shared his regrets about not securing exclusive rights for titles like Destiny and Guitar Hero during their earlier development stages. He expressed disbelief at the potential success of Guitar Hero, a game that utilized physical guitar-shaped controllers.

Since the original Guitar Hero series has been off the market for a while, other games like Fortnite Festival have stepped in to satisfy music game lovers. Released in 2023, Fortnite Festival offers a similar experience to Guitar Hero, complete with well-known soundtracks for players to enjoy. Starting in 2024, manufacturers also began producing plastic guitars specifically designed for Fortnite Festival, showing a clear evolution within the music gaming sector.

What are your thoughts on the recent Guitar Hero Mobile advertisement? Do you find the evident use of AI-generated art concerning or annoying? Join the conversation in the comments below!

For more insights about gaming, check out the news regarding the Twisted Metal reboot that was rumored to be a battle royale-style game.