As previously rumoured in December 2023, a then-teased Guitar Hero-like controller from PDP has now been given a name and an official reveal: the PDP Riffmaster is coming to Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival.
When the controller was first teased, the latest rhythm game to hit the market, Fortnite Festival, was announced that week. Ironically, one month later, Harmonix would announce that the final Rock Band 4 DLC would be released on Jan. 25, and they would no longer make any releases (making note that fans who have made purchases can retain them forever). On Thursday, PDP made an official announcement (first to IGN) to introduce the PDP Riffmaster, the previously teased guitar controller unveiled publicly for the first time.
The PDP Riffmaster is completely wireless (with up to 36 hours of play on a single charge) and resembles its Guitar Hero/Rock Band predecessors but has a different overall design. The PDP Riffmaster changes the formula ever so slightly by including a thumbstick behind the neck of the axe, with a markedly ambidextrous feel. A 3.5 mm audio port (AUX) is also included in the design for those who like to immerse themselves on stage. The pickguard can also be removed, and it will likely be replaceable in the future.
The PDP Riffmaster is compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4, with no mention of whether Nintendo Switch or PC compatibility will be made in the future. A price point has not yet been revealed, but PDP has confirmed that the axe will be made available sometime in Spring 2024. Fans can follow the official PDP X (formerly Twitter) account for further updates regarding the new controller, including price and compatibility.
