10 Video Game Bombs That Made ONE Fatal Mistake

3. Oversaturating The Market - Guitar Hero Live

Immortals of Aveum
Activision

Once upon a time, the Guitar Hero franchise seemed absolutely bulletproof, with Guitar Hero III becoming the first video game in history to sell more than $1 billion at retail.

But in the years that followed, publisher Activision received vocal criticism for oversaturating the market with an increasing number of Guitar Hero titles, including band-centric spin-offs, yet doing little to sufficiently evolve the experience.

After the sixth main game, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, underperformed in 2010, Activision put the franchise on hiatus until 2015, when they returned with reboot Guitar Hero Live. 

While the nifty new guitar and GHTV music video mode were praised, it simply wasn't enough to move the needle with the many millions who had grown tired of the series, and so the game posted disappointing sales.

Guitar Hero was an undeniable cultural touchstone throughout the mid-to-late 2000s, but by flooding the market with so many middling releases, Activision practically invited fans to tune out permanently. 

Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.