Since Harmonix and Activision went their separate ways, each company is developing a new rock-based game. Activision is busy developing Guitar Hero 3, and Harmonix is making Rock Band. Over at Gamasutra, Activision explained why they think Guitar Hero 3 will be the better of the two...by claiming that Rock band is a Guitar Hero imitator. Activision implied that Rock Band will merely be a Guitar Hero retread rather than an original game. However, one could claim that Harmonix has every right to, considering that they originally made the game, and they helped make Konami's Guitar Freaks series.

Since acquiring the Guitar Hero license and franchise from Red Octane, Activision has handed it over to Neversoft for development of Guitar Hero 3. Harmonix decided that it will do Rock Band with the help of MTV and Electronic Arts (EA).