Guitar Hero is not officially available on PS5, but you have working alternatives

Guitar Hero stopped receiving new releases after 2015, and Activision has not brought the series to PlayStation 5. The original Guitar Hero games for PS3 and PS4 will not play on PS5 because the console does not support backward compatibility for those titles. However, you can play rhythm guitar games on PS5 through other routes: Clone Hero (a free community-made game you play on PC and stream to your TV), Rock Band 4 (still sold and playable on PS5 if you own a compatible guitar controller), or Rocksmith 2014 (which teaches real guitar while you play).

The reason Guitar Hero disappeared is straightforward: the rhythm game market crashed around 2010, recovered briefly, then Activision ended the franchise. Your PS5 can play newer rhythm games, but not the Guitar Hero catalog you may have owned on older PlayStation consoles.

Key Takeaways

  • Guitar Hero games for PS3 and PS4 do not work on PS5 because Sony does not support backward compatibility for those titles.
  • Rock Band 4 is the closest official alternative and plays on PS5 if you have a compatible wireless guitar controller.
  • Clone Hero is a free fan-made game that recreates the Guitar Hero experience and works on PC, which you can connect to your TV.
  • Rocksmith 2014 is available on PS5 and teaches you to play a real electric guitar while you play songs.

Why Guitar Hero is not on PS5

Activision owns Guitar Hero and made the decision to stop making new games in the series after Guitar Hero Live in 2015. The rhythm game market had shrunk significantly by that point—the genre peaked around 2008, crashed, and never fully recovered. Without new releases, there was no business reason for Activision to port older games to PS5.

Sony's backward compatibility policy also matters here. PS5 can play most PS4 games, but not all of them. Guitar Hero games fall outside the supported list, partly because licensing agreements for the songs in those games expire and are not renewed. When a game's music licenses run out, the publisher typically removes it from sale and stops supporting it on new hardware.

Rock Band 4: The official rhythm game on PS5

Rock Band 4 is the only major-label rhythm guitar game currently playable on PS5. It launched in 2015 for PS4 and remains backward compatible on PS5. You will need a wireless guitar controller—either the official Rock Band 4 guitar or a compatible third-party model. The game itself is still sold digitally on the PlayStation Store.

Rock Band 4 plays very similarly to Guitar Hero: you match colored notes on a scrolling track, hit the whammy bar for sustain, and use the star power mechanic (called Overdrive in Rock Band). The song library is smaller than Guitar Hero's was at its peak, but Harmonix (the developer) still releases new songs as downloadable content. If you already own a Rock Band guitar controller from PS3 or PS4, check whether it is wireless—only wireless models work on PS5.

One limitation: Rock Band 4 does not support the older wired guitar controllers from PS2 or PS3. You will need to buy a newer wireless controller if you do not already own one, which typically costs $80 to $120.

Clone Hero: Free Guitar Hero on PC

Clone Hero is a free, community-made game that recreates Guitar Hero almost exactly. It runs on Windows and Mac, uses the same guitar controllers as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and includes thousands of custom songs created by fans. You can read it from clonehero.net at no cost.

To play Clone Hero on your TV, connect your PC or Mac to your television with an HDMI cable, then plug in a wireless guitar controller. The game supports most USB guitar controllers made for Guitar Hero or Rock Band. The song library is enormous because the community constantly uploads custom charts—you will find official Guitar Hero songs, modern hits, and obscure tracks all in one place.

The trade-off is that Clone Hero requires a PC or Mac and some setup time. You cannot buy it on PS5 directly. But if you have a computer and a guitar controller, it is the closest experience to the original Guitar Hero games.

Rocksmith 2014: Learn real guitar while you play

Rocksmith 2014 is available on PS5 and takes a different approach than Guitar Hero. Instead of playing a plastic guitar, you plug in a real electric guitar (or acoustic with an adapter) and learn to play actual songs. The game teaches you real finger positions, chord shapes, and techniques while you play along to the music.

Rocksmith 2014 is harder than Guitar Hero at first because you are learning a real instrument, not just hitting colored buttons. But if you want to move from rhythm games to actually playing guitar, this is the bridge. You will need a real guitar and a USB adapter (usually $30 to $40) to connect it to your PS5. The game is sold on the PlayStation Store and includes hundreds of songs, with more available as DLC.

Checking if your old Guitar Hero controllers work on PS5

If you own a wireless Guitar Hero or Rock Band controller from PS3 or PS4, test it on PS5 before buying a new one. Plug the USB wireless receiver into a PS5 USB port, turn on the controller, and see if the PS5 recognizes it. Some older wireless controllers will pair with PS5, though compatibility is not may provide.

Wired controllers from PS2 or PS3 will not work on PS5—the console does not have drivers for them. If your controller is wired, you will need to buy a wireless model. Check the product listing or manual to confirm whether your controller is wireless or wired before you assume it is incompatible.

Other rhythm games on PS5

Beyond Rock Band and Rocksmith, PS5 has a smaller selection of rhythm games compared to PS4. Beat Saber is available if you own a PlayStation VR headset, though it uses motion controllers rather than a guitar. Just Dance series games are on PS5 but use a controller or smartphone, not a guitar. Neither of these replaces the Guitar Hero experience.

If you are set on playing a guitar-based rhythm game, Rock Band 4 and Clone Hero are your main options. Rocksmith 2014 is worth considering if you want to learn real guitar alongside the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Guitar Hero 3 or Guitar Hero World Tour on PS5?

No. Those games were made for PS2 and PS3, and PS5 does not support backward compatibility for them. Your only option is to keep the original console or play Clone Hero on a PC instead.

Will Activision ever release Guitar Hero on PS5?

There is no announcement of a new Guitar Hero game. The franchise has been inactive since 2015. If a new game were made, it would likely come to PS5, but there is no indication one is in development.

Do I need PlayStation Plus to play Rock Band 4 on PS5?

No. Rock Band 4 is a single-player game and does not require a PlayStation Plus subscription to play. You only need Plus if you want to use online multiplayer features.

Can I use a Guitar Hero controller from PS4 on PS5?

Only if it is wireless. Wired controllers are not supported on PS5. If your PS4 Guitar Hero controller is wireless, try connecting it to PS5—it may work, but compatibility is not may provide for all models.

Is Clone Hero legal to read?

Clone Hero itself is legal—it is fan-made software. However, some custom songs in the community library may use copyrighted music without permission. Stick to official song charts or well-known community uploads if you are concerned about copyright.