<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
is	O
a	O
2015	O
music	B-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
allows	O
players	O
to	O
simulate	O
the	O
playing	O
of	O
music	O
across	O
many	O
different	O
decades	O
and	O
genres	O
using	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
that	O
mimic	O
playing	O
lead	O
and	O
bass	O
guitar	O
,	O
drums	O
,	O
and	O
vocals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
the	O
fourth	O
main	O
installment	O
and	O
the	O
7th	O
major	O
console	B-Device
installment	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
franchise	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
for	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
on	O
October	O
6	O
,	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mad	O
Catz	O
,	O
who	O
also	O
developed	O
new	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
marketed	O
and	O
distributed	O
the	O
title	O
worldwide	O
at	O
launch	O
;	O
Performance	B-Application
Designed	I-Application
Products	I-Application
(	O
PDP	O
)	O
took	O
over	O
manufacturing	O
and	O
distribution	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
shipped	O
with	O
more	O
than	O
sixty	O
licensed	O
songs	O
;	O
additional	O
songs	O
are	O
available	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
,	O
which	O
includes	O
a	O
library	O
of	O
over	O
2000	O
existing	O
songs	O
from	O
prior	O
installments	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
represented	O
Harmonix	O
's	O
return	O
to	O
the	O
franchise	O
after	O
an	O
almost	O
three-year	O
hiatus	O
,	O
following	O
the	O
diminishing	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
rhythm	O
game	O
market	O
that	O
started	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Announced	O
on	O
March	O
5	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
refocuses	O
on	O
the	O
core	O
gameplay	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
,	O
reducing	O
the	O
emphasis	O
on	O
musical	O
instruction	O
that	O
was	O
employed	O
by	O
its	O
predecessor	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
while	O
emphasizing	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
social	O
interactions	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
new	O
features	O
enabling	O
players	O
to	O
incorporate	O
improvisation	O
into	O
their	O
performance	O
—	O
such	O
as	O
"	O
freestyle	O
solos	O
"	O
on	O
guitar	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
freeform	O
melodies	O
"	O
on	O
multi-part	O
vocals	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
offers	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
content	O
and	O
hardware	O
from	O
previous	O
versions	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
within	O
the	O
same	O
console	B-Device
family	O
;	O
wireless	O
guitar	O
and	O
drum	O
controllers	O
from	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
can	O
be	O
used	O
on	O
the	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
versions	O
(	O
with	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
requiring	O
a	O
newly	O
produced	O
USB	B-Device
dongle	I-Device
and	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
not	O
requiring	O
any	O
new	O
hardware	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
DLC	B-Protocol
songs	O
purchased	O
on	O
prior	O
installments	O
on	O
PS3	B-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
can	O
be	O
re-downloaded	O
at	O
no	O
extra	O
charge	O
on	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
in	O
a	O
ported	O
form	O
that	O
supports	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
plans	O
to	O
release	O
free	O
and	O
paid	O
DLC	B-Protocol
that	O
will	O
add	O
new	O
features	O
and	O
content	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
over	O
time	O
,	O
in	O
lieu	O
of	O
releasing	O
yearly	O
installments	O
;	O
this	O
includes	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
support	O
for	O
synchronous	O
online	O
play	O
added	O
on	O
January	O
25	O
,	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critical	O
reception	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
on-launch	O
was	O
positive	O
,	O
with	O
reviews	O
praising	O
the	O
game	O
for	O
not	O
significantly	O
deviating	O
from	O
the	O
gameplay	O
mechanics	O
of	O
prior	O
installments	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
higher	O
degree	O
of	O
creative	O
freedom	O
offered	O
by	O
the	O
Freestyle	O
Solos	O
feature	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
previously-released	O
content	O
for	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
follows	O
that	O
from	O
previous	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
:	O
the	O
player	O
or	O
group	O
of	O
players	O
use	O
special	O
instrument-based	O
controllers	O
or	O
microphones	O
to	O
mimic	O
playing	O
the	O
instruments	O
by	O
following	O
scrolling	O
cues	O
on	O
screen	O
and	O
attempt	O
to	O
play	O
through	O
a	O
song	O
and	O
score	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
release	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
supported	O
three	O
main	O
modes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Quickplay	O
allows	O
the	O
players	O
to	O
select	O
any	O
song	O
to	O
play	O
that	O
is	O
on	O
disc	O
or	O
in	O
the	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
library	O
of	O
songs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
mode	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
is	O
a	O
Band	O
Tour	O
career	O
mode	O
which	O
IGN	O
described	O
as	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
now	O
has	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
Freestyle	O
Guitar	O
Solos	O
,	O
an	O
optional	O
feature	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
If	O
this	O
feature	O
is	O
disabled	O
,	O
guitar	O
solos	O
in	O
songs	O
are	O
presented	O
as	O
they	O
were	O
in	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
games	O
with	O
more	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
note-matching	O
aspects	O
in	O
beat	O
with	O
the	O
original	O
song	O
's	O
solo	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
scores	O
as	O
they	O
normally	O
do	O
as	O
during	O
regular	O
song	O
sections	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
added	O
scoring	O
bonus	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
percentage	O
of	O
the	O
solo	O
notes	O
hit	O
correctly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Drums	O
players	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
are	O
able	O
to	O
count	O
down	O
to	O
start	O
the	O
song	O
as	O
often	O
done	O
by	O
real-life	O
bands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
will	O
change	O
how	O
the	O
drummer	O
can	O
trigger	O
overdrive	O
:	O
unlike	O
past	O
titles	O
,	O
where	O
the	O
drummer	O
would	O
gain	O
a	O
free-form	O
section	O
and	O
then	O
strike	O
a	O
specific	O
pad	O
to	O
activate	O
overdrive	O
,	O
which	O
Harmonix	O
found	O
would	O
throw	O
some	O
players	O
off	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
presents	O
one	O
of	O
a	O
random	O
number	O
of	O
pre-created	O
drum	O
fills	O
that	O
fit	O
the	O
timing	O
of	O
the	O
song	O
when	O
the	O
drummer	O
player	O
has	O
Overdrive	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
feature	O
is	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
with	O
all	O
previous	O
songs	O
in	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vocal	O
players	O
are	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
two	O
-	O
or	O
three-part	O
harmonies	O
as	O
previously	O
used	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
through	O
contributions	O
from	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
fan	O
community	O
,	O
existing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
songs	O
that	O
feature	O
vocal	O
harmonies	O
but	O
originally	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
series	O
without	O
harmony	O
support	O
,	O
is	O
updated	O
to	O
include	O
harmonies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
with	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
titles	O
,	O
the	O
players	O
has	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
create	O
custom	O
avatars	O
for	O
their	O
band	O
members	O
within	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
displayed	O
in	O
the	O
background	O
visuals	O
while	O
playing	O
through	O
a	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
ships	O
with	O
more	O
pre-made	O
characters	O
to	O
allow	O
players	O
to	O
get	O
into	O
the	O
game	O
faster	O
,	O
and	O
atop	O
more	O
options	O
from	O
previous	O
games	O
,	O
removes	O
restrictions	O
on	O
gender-fixed	O
items	O
;	O
for	O
example	O
,	O
mustaches	O
and	O
beards	O
were	O
only	O
an	O
option	O
for	O
male	O
characters	O
in	O
previous	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
interview	O
with	O
Vice	O
in	O
June	O
2015	O
,	O
Sussman	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
would	O
not	O
ship	O
with	O
support	O
for	O
online	O
play	O
,	O
as	O
surveys	O
taken	O
prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
and	O
their	O
own	O
tracking	O
,	O
showed	O
that	O
only	O
about	O
10%	O
of	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
players	O
used	O
the	O
online	O
feature	O
,	O
and	O
thus	O
focused	O
on	O
building	O
out	O
the	O
local	O
play	O
features	O
first	O
for	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
is	O
designed	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
as	O
a	O
platform	O
title	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
updated	O
periodically	O
,	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
releasing	O
new	O
disc-based	O
versions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
late	O
2016	O
updates	O
will	O
also	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
updated	O
controllers	O
from	O
Performance	B-Application
Designed	I-Application
Products	I-Application
,	O
as	O
announced	O
in	O
March	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
released	O
a	O
patch	O
to	O
include	O
online	O
play	O
on	O
January	O
25	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
an	O
oft-requested	O
feature	O
since	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4s	I-Application
launch	O
;	O
this	O
will	O
require	O
players	O
to	O
have	O
purchased	O
the	O
Rivals	O
expansion	O
(	O
described	O
below	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Updates	O
have	O
included	O
additional	O
clothing	O
and	O
instruments	O
for	O
the	O
in-game	O
characters	O
,	O
including	O
Vault	O
suits	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
promotional	O
tie-in	O
in	O
Bethesda	O
's	O
Fallout	B-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
the	O
goggle	O
headgear	O
worn	O
by	O
the	O
protagonist	O
Raz	O
from	O
Double	O
Fine	O
Productions	O
 '	O
Psychonauts	B-Application
,	O
outfits	O
for	O
characters	O
from	O
Gearbox	O
Software	O
's	O
Battleborn	B-Application
,	O
and	O
instruments	O
and	O
outfits	O
inspired	O
by	O
Mass	B-Application
Effect	I-Application
:	I-Application
Andromeda	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
update	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
alongside	O
Rivals	O
;	O
it	O
brought	O
back	O
advanced	O
song	O
filtering	O
options	O
(	O
including	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
sort	O
songs	O
by	O
their	O
source	O
game	O
)	O
and	O
a	O
song	O
rating	O
system	O
,	O
both	O
present	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
and	O
introduced	O
a	O
refreshed	O
,	O
dark	O
blue	O
interface	O
theme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sussman	O
has	O
asserted	O
that	O
they	O
do	O
not	O
plan	O
to	O
bring	O
back	O
keyboard	O
support	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
seeing	O
it	O
diverge	O
from	O
their	O
current	O
target	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
free	O
updates	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
planned	O
to	O
release	O
purchasable	O
expansions	O
to	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
adopting	O
a	O
model	O
similar	O
to	O
such	O
paid	O
expansions	O
on	O
Destiny	B-Application
and	O
World	B-Protocol
of	I-Protocol
Warcraft	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first	O
paid	O
expansion	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Rivals	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
October	O
18	O
,	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Players	O
gain	O
Fame	O
by	O
earning	O
stars	O
in	O
these	O
sets	O
,	O
which	O
are	O
needed	O
to	O
progress	O
further	O
in	O
the	O
Rockudrama	O
,	O
and	O
by	O
achieving	O
a	O
specific	O
amount	O
of	O
fame	O
over	O
several	O
sets	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
unlock	O
new	O
venues	O
that	O
will	O
appear	O
in	O
other	O
gameplay	O
areas	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Rivals	I-Application
itself	O
did	O
not	O
include	O
additional	O
songs	O
at	O
launch	O
,	O
although	O
those	O
who	O
pre-ordered	O
the	O
expansion	O
received	O
up	O
to	O
twelve	O
new	O
songs	O
for	O
free	O
;	O
these	O
songs	O
were	O
later	O
released	O
for	O
sale	O
to	O
other	O
users	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
update	O
also	O
introduced	O
Missions	O
,	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
Challenges	O
used	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
that	O
require	O
players	O
to	O
meet	O
certain	O
goals	O
to	O
complete	O
;	O
some	O
of	O
these	O
will	O
include	O
Missions	O
for	O
Crews	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
single-player	O
challenges	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
server	O
architecture	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
allowed	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
update	O
and	O
add	O
Missions	O
over	O
time	O
without	O
having	O
to	O
patch	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rhythm	O
games	O
like	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
and	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
had	O
been	O
widely	O
popular	O
during	O
2005	O
to	O
2008	O
,	O
but	O
due	O
to	O
oversaturation	O
of	O
the	O
market	O
and	O
the	O
onset	O
of	O
the	O
2009	O
recession	O
,	O
the	O
rhythm	O
genre	O
suffered	O
major	O
setbacks	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
genre	O
's	O
popularity	O
had	O
quickly	O
waned	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
had	O
released	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
in	O
2010	O
,	O
and	O
while	O
well	O
received	O
by	O
critics	O
and	O
fans	O
,	O
had	O
only	O
an	O
estimated	O
one	O
million	O
retail	O
sales	O
,	O
lagging	O
behind	O
its	O
dancing	B-Application
game	I-Application
,	O
Dance	B-Application
Central	I-Application
,	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
same	O
period	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
would	O
continue	O
to	O
support	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
through	O
2013	O
with	O
additional	O
content	O
patches	O
and	O
over	O
280	O
consecutive	O
weeks	O
of	O
new	O
songs	O
provided	O
as	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
DLC	B-Protocol
)	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
producing	O
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
,	O
an	O
arcade-like	O
rhythm	O
game	O
that	O
did	O
not	O
require	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
,	O
but	O
used	O
existing	O
music	O
libraries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2013	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
released	O
its	O
last	O
regular	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
stating	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
focusing	O
on	O
other	O
projects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
noted	O
that	O
they	O
would	O
look	O
to	O
reintroduce	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
in	O
the	O
future	O
,	O
when	O
they	O
felt	O
the	O
time	O
was	O
right	O
to	O
bring	O
back	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
began	O
in	O
the	O
last	O
quarter	O
of	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rigopulos	O
said	O
that	O
internally	O
if	O
they	O
were	O
going	O
to	O
bring	O
back	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
"	O
really	O
make	O
the	O
best	O
game	O
that	O
we	O
had	O
ever	O
made	O
;	O
that	O
we	O
had	O
a	O
vision	O
for	O
what	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
,	O
that	O
made	O
it	O
worth	O
making	O
,	O
really	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
's	O
Greg	O
LoPiccolo	O
added	O
that	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
want	O
to	O
try	O
to	O
introduce	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
during	O
the	O
new	O
consoles	O
 '	O
first	O
year	O
where	O
they	O
would	O
have	O
to	O
compete	O
with	O
major	O
franchises	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Funding	O
for	O
development	O
was	O
aided	O
by	O
$15	O
million	O
in	O
investments	O
from	O
Spark	O
Capital	O
and	O
Foundry	O
Group	O
,	O
not	O
only	O
to	O
support	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
but	O
the	O
remake	O
of	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
Amplitude	B-Application
and	O
future	O
projects	O
involving	O
virtual	B-Application
reality	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
aggressive	O
focus	O
on	O
musical	O
instruction	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
instead	O
puts	O
a	O
larger	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
franchise	O
's	O
core	O
gameplay	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
overall	O
feeling	O
of	O
the	O
experience	O
;	O
Rigopulos	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
franchise	O
had	O
become	O
too	O
"	O
sprawling	O
"	O
in	O
functionality	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
"	O
there	O
is	O
an	O
existing	O
gameplay	O
core	O
that	O
is	O
very	O
powerful	O
and	O
very	O
fun	O
,	O
and	O
we	O
do	O
n't	O
want	O
to	O
tamper	O
with	O
that	O
core	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rigopulos	O
stated	O
that	O
Ubisoft	O
's	O
competing	O
Rocksmith	B-Application
series	O
"	O
is	O
serving	O
the	O
audience	O
that	O
wants	O
actual	O
guitar	O
instrumental	O
instruction	O
very	O
well.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
Freestyle	O
Guitar	O
Solo	O
feature	O
was	O
something	O
that	O
Harmonix	O
had	O
built	O
a	O
prototype	O
for	O
in	O
early	O
2014	O
;	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
they	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
a	O
clear	O
concept	O
of	O
its	O
use	O
but	O
found	O
the	O
mechanic	O
to	O
have	O
potential	O
and	O
built	O
up	O
parts	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
around	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rigopulos	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
they	O
were	O
not	O
trying	O
to	O
develop	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
with	O
competition	O
from	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
Live	I-Application
in	O
mind	O
;	O
that	O
competition	O
had	O
caused	O
the	O
original	O
over-saturation	O
of	O
the	O
rhythm	O
game	O
market	O
in	O
2009	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
goal	O
is	O
a	O
smaller	O
but	O
known	O
fraction	O
of	O
the	O
market	O
of	O
both	O
old	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
players	O
and	O
new	O
ones	O
,	O
such	O
that	O
meeting	O
those	O
numbers	O
would	O
make	O
the	O
game	O
financially	O
viable	O
even	O
if	O
it	O
does	O
not	O
outsell	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
Live	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
developed	O
a	O
new	O
game	O
engine	O
called	O
Forge	O
,	O
also	O
used	O
for	O
their	O
remake	O
of	O
Amplitude	B-Application
,	O
to	O
take	O
advantage	O
of	O
the	O
upgraded	O
hardware	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
run	O
at	O
1080p	O
at	O
60	O
frames	O
per	O
second	O
;	O
product	O
manager	O
Eric	O
Pope	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
engine	O
included	O
better	O
lighting	O
,	O
character	O
models	O
,	O
and	O
animation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
not	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
or	O
the	O
personal	O
computer	O
market	O
,	O
with	O
product	O
manager	O
Daniel	O
Sussman	O
stating	O
that	O
two	O
issues	O
that	O
would	O
limit	O
a	O
personal	O
computer	O
version	O
is	O
existing	O
music	O
availability	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
security	O
for	O
the	O
specific	O
music	O
tracks	O
which	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
consoles	O
already	O
possess	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sussman	O
stated	O
that	O
either	O
platform	O
could	O
be	O
possible	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
if	O
there	O
is	O
market	O
demand	O
,	O
but	O
their	O
present	O
focus	O
was	O
the	O
safest	O
route	O
to	O
bringing	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
to	O
mass	O
market	O
through	O
the	O
major	O
console	B-Device
platforms	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
13	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
three	O
new	O
DLC	B-Protocol
songs	O
,	O
the	O
first	O
in	O
nearly	O
21	O
months	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sudden	O
release	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
a	O
survey	O
posted	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
a	O
few	O
days	O
later	O
,	O
indicated	O
the	O
possibility	O
that	O
the	O
studio	O
was	O
planning	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
new	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
game	O
for	O
eighth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
5	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
officially	O
announced	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
is	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
only	O
retail	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
franchise	O
for	O
the	O
current	O
generation	O
of	O
consoles	O
;	O
Rigopulos	O
called	O
the	O
multiple-release	O
cycle	O
"	O
taxing	O
"	O
on	O
both	O
the	O
studio	O
and	O
consumers	O
,	O
and	O
instead	O
sees	O
the	O
game	O
as	O
a	O
platform	O
which	O
they	O
can	O
continuously	O
improve	O
over	O
the	O
life	O
of	O
the	O
title	O
without	O
excessive	O
work	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2015	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
stated	O
that	O
they	O
already	O
have	O
plans	O
for	O
post-release	O
patches	O
,	O
both	O
free	O
and	O
paid	O
,	O
to	O
add	O
new	O
gameplay	O
functionality	O
to	O
expand	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
title	O
,	O
with	O
plans	O
to	O
release	O
a	O
free	O
patch	O
in	O
December	O
2015	O
to	O
include	O
an	O
option	O
for	O
"	O
Variable	O
Breakneck	O
Speed	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
affects	O
the	O
rate	O
at	O
which	O
notes	O
scroll	O
on	O
the	O
screen	O
,	O
among	O
other	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2016	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
launched	O
a	O
crowd	O
funding	O
campaign	O
through	O
the	O
Fig	O
platform	O
to	O
produce	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
for	O
personal	O
computers	O
,	O
to	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
in	O
the	O
last	O
quarter	O
of	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
released	O
via	O
Steam	B-Application
,	O
allowing	O
users	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
Steam	B-Application
Workshop	O
to	O
create	O
their	O
own	O
songs	O
and	O
distribute	O
it	O
to	O
others	O
,	O
with	O
curation	O
by	O
Harmonix	O
to	O
avoid	O
copyright	O
infringements	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
manner	O
comparable	O
to	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
but	O
at	O
a	O
lower	O
cost	O
;	O
they	O
have	O
already	O
ported	O
the	O
previous	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
tools	O
to	O
offer	O
to	O
backers	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
planned	O
to	O
allow	O
compatibility	O
with	O
all	O
existing	O
instrument	O
controllers	O
from	O
the	O
various	O
PlayStation	O
2	O
,	O
3	O
and	O
4	O
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
One	O
platforms	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
begun	O
working	O
through	O
details	O
with	O
Sony	O
and	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
would	O
have	O
shipped	O
with	O
the	O
same	O
65	O
songs	O
as	O
the	O
console	B-Device
version	O
,	O
and	O
at	O
least	O
1700	O
songs	O
for	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
(	O
all	O
those	O
currently	O
available	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
on	O
consoles	O
)	O
,	O
though	O
,	O
as	O
with	O
the	O
console	B-Device
versions	O
,	O
users	O
would	O
have	O
had	O
to	O
repurchase	O
these	O
songs	O
on	O
the	O
PC	O
and	O
cannot	O
transfer	O
over	O
songs	O
they	O
already	O
own	O
on	O
either	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
funding	O
campaign	O
failed	O
to	O
reach	O
its	O
goal	O
,	O
only	O
obtaining	O
about	O
$	O
793,000	O
of	O
the	O
$1.5	O
M	O
target	O
;	O
Harmonix	O
has	O
not	O
ruled	O
out	O
approaching	O
a	O
personal	O
computer	O
version	O
in	O
the	O
future	O
as	O
they	O
are	O
aware	O
there	O
is	O
some	O
demand	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
there	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
confirmed	O
that	O
with	O
the	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
of	O
both	O
the	O
Xbox	B-Device
Series	I-Device
X	I-Device
and	I-Device
Series	I-Device
S	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
consoles	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
November	O
2020	O
,	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
will	O
be	O
playable	O
on	O
the	O
new	O
consoles	O
with	O
most	O
of	O
the	O
officially-supported	O
instruments	O
that	O
worked	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
that	O
players	O
will	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
bring	O
over	O
all	O
downloadable	B-Protocol
content	I-Protocol
they	O
had	O
purchased	O
to	O
the	O
new	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Further	O
,	O
players	O
within	O
the	O
same	O
console	B-Device
family	O
(	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
5	I-Device
,	O
for	O
example	O
)	O
will	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
online	O
multiplayer	O
features	O
together	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
plans	O
to	O
continue	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
game	O
with	O
further	O
DLC	B-Protocol
after	O
the	O
new	O
console	B-Device
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mad	O
Catz	O
developed	O
updated	O
guitar	O
and	O
drum	O
controllers	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
;	O
the	O
company	O
noted	O
that	O
while	O
it	O
did	O
not	O
want	O
to	O
"	O
reinvent	O
the	O
wheel	O
"	O
,	O
the	O
controllers	O
still	O
featured	O
technical	O
improvements	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
reduced	O
wireless	O
latency	O
and	O
a	O
more	O
sensitive	O
tilt	O
sensor	O
on	O
the	O
guitar	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
drum	O
kit	O
can	O
be	O
expanded	O
with	O
an	O
optional	O
set	O
of	O
three	O
hit-sensitive	O
pads	O
that	O
act	O
as	O
cymbals	O
,	O
which	O
allow	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
use	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
Pro	O
Drum	O
"	O
mode	O
as	O
introduced	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
;	O
in	O
this	O
mode	O
,	O
certain	O
gems	O
will	O
be	O
marked	O
as	O
cymbal	O
hits	O
instead	O
of	O
drum	O
hits	O
,	O
requiring	O
the	O
player	O
to	O
make	O
that	O
distinction	O
to	O
score	O
points	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
stated	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
"	O
aggressively	O
"	O
worked	O
with	O
console	B-Device
manufacturers	O
on	O
means	O
to	O
allow	O
guitar	O
and	O
drum	O
controllers	O
from	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
versions	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
to	O
be	O
forward	B-General_Concept
compatible	I-General_Concept
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
;	O
Harmonix	O
and	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
both	O
agreed	O
that	O
while	O
technically	O
difficult	O
to	O
complete	O
,	O
this	O
compatibility	O
was	O
necessary	O
to	O
support	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
community	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
natively	O
supports	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
instruments	O
by	O
means	O
of	O
the	O
USB	B-Device
dongle	I-Device
that	O
they	O
require	O
to	O
operate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Achieving	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
instruments	O
was	O
more	O
difficult	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
had	O
used	O
the	O
console	B-Device
's	O
native	O
wireless	O
controller	O
capabilities	O
instead	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
changed	O
between	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
,	O
standalone	O
copies	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
are	O
bundled	O
with	O
a	O
"	O
Legacy	O
Adapter	O
"	O
to	O
allow	O
use	O
of	O
wireless	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
instrument	O
controllers	O
,	O
including	O
those	O
developed	O
to	O
support	O
Guitar	B-Application
Hero	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
this	O
hardware	O
,	O
the	O
retail	O
price	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
on	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
was	O
higher	O
than	O
the	O
PS4	B-Operating_System
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Adapter	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
by	O
experimenting	O
with	O
all	O
legacy	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
controllers	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
support	O
and	O
verifying	O
what	O
inputs	O
they	O
sent	O
via	O
wireless	O
connection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
worked	O
with	O
a	O
former	O
Microsoft	O
employee	O
that	O
had	O
experience	O
with	O
the	B-Operating_System
Xbox	I-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
's	O
wireless	O
features	O
for	O
additional	O
insight	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Existing	O
USB	B-Protocol
microphones	O
remain	O
compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
was	O
also	O
working	O
to	O
get	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
for	O
the	O
Stage	O
Kit	O
,	O
an	O
add-on	O
hardware	O
unit	O
for	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
owners	O
that	O
allowed	O
for	O
a	O
smoke	O
machine	O
and	O
light	O
show	O
display	O
in	O
time	O
with	O
the	O
song	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Owing	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
focus	O
on	O
core	O
gameplay	O
,	O
and	O
concerns	O
that	O
consumers	O
may	O
be	O
unwilling	O
to	O
buy	O
additional	O
hardware	O
for	O
specific	O
games	O
early	O
in	O
a	O
console	B-Device
generation	O
's	O
lifecycle	O
,	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
did	O
not	O
feature	O
additional	O
accessories	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2016	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
that	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
would	O
be	O
replaced	O
by	O
Performance	B-Application
Designed	I-Application
Products	I-Application
(	O
PDP	O
)	O
as	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4s	I-Application
publisher	O
and	O
hardware	O
partner	O
later	O
in	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
with	O
updated	O
hardware	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
to	O
coincide	O
with	O
the	O
upcoming	O
Rivals	O
expansion	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2016	O
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
they	O
had	O
signed	O
an	O
extension	O
with	O
their	O
deal	O
with	O
Fender	O
to	O
continue	O
use	O
the	O
name	O
and	O
branding	O
within	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
series	O
through	O
2027	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
new	O
peripheral	O
hardware	O
based	O
on	O
Fender	O
's	O
instruments	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
soon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
E3	O
2016	O
,	O
PDP	O
and	O
Harmonix	O
unveiled	O
new	O
hardware	O
that	O
was	O
released	O
alongside	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Rivals	I-Application
expansion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
new	O
full	O
band	O
bundle	O
featuring	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
and	O
the	O
Rivals	O
expansion	O
,	O
a	O
Jaguar	O
guitar	O
and	O
a	O
drumkit	O
shipped	O
alongside	O
the	O
digital	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Rivals	O
expansion	O
in	O
late	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PDP	O
had	O
also	O
offered	O
a	O
wired	O
legacy	O
adapter	O
for	O
use	O
with	O
wired	O
instruments	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
first-generation	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
hardware	O
and	O
the	O
Ion	O
Drum	O
Rocker	O
)	O
and	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
MIDI-Pro	O
Adapter	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
ships	O
with	O
65	O
songs	O
on	O
disc	O
,	O
spanning	O
from	O
the	O
1960s	O
to	O
the	O
2010s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nearly	O
all	O
existing	O
official	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
DLC	B-Protocol
is	O
compatible	O
with	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
within	O
the	O
same	O
console	B-Device
family	O
(	O
i.e.	O
</s>
<s>
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
can	O
only	O
import	O
songs	O
purchased	O
on	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
3	I-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
Xbox	B-Device
One	I-Device
can	O
only	O
import	O
songs	O
purchased	O
on	O
Xbox	B-Operating_System
360	I-Operating_System
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Previous	O
disc	O
exports	O
from	O
the	O
previous	O
disc-based	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
(	O
excluding	O
The	B-Application
Beatles	I-Application
:	I-Application
Rock	I-Application
Band	I-Application
)	O
,	O
the	O
Track	O
Packs	O
,	O
and	O
from	O
Rock	B-Device
Band	I-Device
Blitz	I-Device
will	O
eventually	O
be	O
available	O
for	O
players	O
,	O
as	O
long	O
as	O
they	O
have	O
previously	O
performed	O
the	O
disc	O
export	O
;	O
there	O
will	O
be	O
no	O
option	O
to	O
export	O
these	O
songs	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
3	I-Application
on-disc	O
songs	O
are	O
expected	O
to	O
be	O
exportable	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
December	O
2015	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
"	O
If	O
you	O
bought	O
a	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
song	O
,	O
it	O
should	O
be	O
yours	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
"	O
said	O
Sussman	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
transition	O
of	O
all	O
official	O
DLC	B-Protocol
,	O
Harmonix	O
announced	O
in	O
May	O
2018	O
it	O
will	O
also	O
start	O
bringing	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
and	O
fan-requested	O
entries	O
from	O
the	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
Network	O
into	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
most	O
cases	O
,	O
existing	O
songs	O
will	O
be	O
updated	O
to	O
use	O
both	O
Freestyle	O
Guitar	O
and	O
Vocals	O
within	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Harmonix	O
has	O
resumed	O
releasing	O
DLC	B-Protocol
since	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
,	O
generally	O
releasing	O
three	O
to	O
six	O
new	O
songs	O
each	O
week	O
,	O
with	O
DLC	B-Protocol
not	O
being	O
released	O
during	O
the	O
weeks	O
that	O
a	O
new	O
patch	O
is	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
received	O
positive	O
reviews	O
from	O
critics	O
,	O
who	O
judged	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
does	O
not	O
significantly	O
deviate	O
from	O
its	O
past	O
,	O
otherwise	O
strong	O
,	O
iterations	O
,	O
but	O
considered	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
to	O
be	O
weaker	O
than	O
previous	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aggregating	O
review	O
websites	O
GameRankings	O
and	O
Metacritic	O
gave	O
the	B-Device
Xbox	I-Device
One	I-Device
version	O
79.64	O
%	O
based	O
on	O
22	O
reviews	O
and	O
79/100	O
based	O
on	O
27	O
reviews	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
PlayStation	I-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
version	O
78.47	O
%	O
based	O
on	O
31	O
reviews	O
and	O
78/100	O
based	O
on	O
51	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
praised	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
for	O
remaining	O
"	O
every	O
bit	O
the	O
magical	O
cooperative	O
gaming	O
experience	O
the	O
series	O
has	O
always	O
been	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
particular	O
focus	O
on	O
its	O
continuity	O
in	O
gameplay	O
with	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
"	O
party-friendly	O
"	O
improvements	O
to	O
managing	O
multiplayer	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
on-disc	O
soundtrack	O
was	O
considered	O
"	O
weaker	O
"	O
than	O
previous	O
installments	O
,	O
describing	O
it	O
as	O
primarily	O
featuring	O
"	O
B-list	O
"	O
musicians	O
,	O
lesser-known	O
songs	O
by	O
notable	O
acts	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
Rush	O
)	O
that	O
had	O
not	O
yet	O
been	O
featured	O
in	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
,	O
and	O
lacking	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
major	O
acts	O
that	O
had	O
historically	O
made	O
appearances	O
in	O
the	O
franchise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
acknowledged	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
backward	B-General_Concept
compatibility	I-General_Concept
with	O
songs	O
purchased	O
for	O
previous	O
versions	O
provided	O
a	O
"	O
massive	O
incentive	O
"	O
for	O
players	O
with	O
pre-existing	O
libraries	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
praising	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
for	O
maintaining	O
the	O
"	O
spirit	O
"	O
of	O
prior	O
installments	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
panned	O
for	O
not	O
distinguishing	O
itself	O
enough	O
from	O
them	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
describing	O
the	O
career	O
mode	O
as	O
being	O
an	O
iteration	O
of	O
a	O
structure	O
already	O
used	O
in	O
previous	O
music	B-Application
games	I-Application
(	O
including	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
2	I-Application
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
NPD	O
Group	O
reported	O
that	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
was	O
the	O
tenth	O
best	O
selling	O
game	O
for	O
October	O
2015	O
based	O
on	O
units	O
,	O
while	O
accounting	O
for	O
price	O
,	O
was	O
the	O
fourth	O
best	O
selling	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Analyst	O
Michael	O
Pachter	O
estimated	O
revenue	O
from	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
sales	O
were	O
about	O
$100	O
million	O
in	O
early	O
2016	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mad	O
Catz	O
,	O
prior	O
to	O
release	O
,	O
had	O
anticipated	O
high	O
sales	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
part	O
to	O
avoid	O
defaulting	O
to	O
their	O
current	O
debtor	O
;	O
however	O
,	O
sales	O
were	O
lower	O
than	O
expected	O
based	O
on	O
their	O
2016	O
Fiscal	O
Year	O
results	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
contributed	O
significantly	O
towards	O
sales	O
of	O
controller	O
hardware	O
for	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
found	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
"	O
sell-through	O
was	O
lower	O
than	O
originally	O
forecast	O
resulting	O
in	O
higher	O
inventory	O
balances	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
lower	O
margins	O
due	O
to	O
increased	O
promotional	O
activity	O
with	O
retailers	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
their	O
financial	O
earnings	O
report	O
given	O
mid-2016	O
,	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
reported	O
a	O
total	O
loss	O
of	O
more	O
than	O
$11	O
million	O
,	O
much	O
of	O
it	O
attributed	O
to	O
unsold	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
inventory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Mad	O
Catz	O
's	O
2016	O
annual	O
financial	O
report	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
said	O
that	O
its	O
partnership	O
with	O
Harmonix	O
for	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
had	O
been	O
a	O
"	O
burden	O
"	O
on	O
the	O
company	O
,	O
as	O
though	O
they	O
ultimately	O
sold	O
all	O
stock	O
of	O
their	O
instruments	O
,	O
the	O
revenues	O
were	O
not	O
as	O
great	O
as	O
anticipated	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
following	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
discovered	O
that	O
some	O
of	O
Harmonix	O
 '	O
employees	O
has	O
submitted	O
very	O
positive	O
customers	O
reviews	O
as	O
anonymous	O
users	O
for	O
the	O
game	O
at	O
Amazon.com	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Separately	O
,	O
PlayStation	B-Operating_System
4	I-Operating_System
users	O
of	O
Rock	B-Application
Band	I-Application
4	I-Application
in	O
Europe	O
were	O
unable	O
to	O
download	O
some	O
of	O
their	O
previously	O
purchased	O
DLC	B-Protocol
from	O
the	O
PlayStation	O
Store	O
,	O
at	O
least	O
four	O
weeks	O
after	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
