CRKD Launches Three Gibson Guitar Controllers, Including a Recreation of a Never-Released GH2 Prototype
CRKD has built three Gibson-licensed guitar controllers for the rhythm game *Stage Tour*, with the SG-shaped model based on a scrapped PS2-era *Guitar Hero II* concept design. The game launches December 10.
The most intriguing one of the bunch is a controller that never actually made it to market. CRKD's Gibson SG Midnight Blue Edition draws its inspiration from a shelved controller concept from the PS2-era *Guitar Hero II*—now brought to life in a deep blue finish, essentially pulling an idea out of the drawer and putting it into production.
This is one of three Gibson guitar controllers CRKD has developed in partnership with RedOctane Games, designed specifically for the upcoming rhythm game *Stage Tour*, launching on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S on December 10. All three controllers are now available for pre-order through the official *Stage Tour* website or CRKD's own storefront.
The Gibson Les Paul Oxblood Edition goes for a retro vibe, with a shape and colorway inspired by the classic Les Paul. It comes in two versions: one for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC priced at $130, and another compatible with Android, PC, and Switch priced at $120.
The aforementioned Gibson SG Midnight Blue Edition is officially licensed by PlayStation, compatible with PS4, PS5, and PC, priced at $130. That deep blue finish is exactly what sets it apart from the other two models.
The third model, the 8K Gibson Explorer: 20th Anniversary Edition, sports an all-white lightning-bolt shape inspired by the X-Plorer Controller that Activision and the original RedOctane team created for *Guitar Hero II* back in 2007—itself an early take on the classic Gibson Explorer shape as a game controller. This version is compatible with PC, Android, and Switch, also priced at $130, but won't ship until mid-January next year, while the other two will launch alongside the game.
Specs Aligned with the Official Kramer Controller, 8K Version Offers Ultra-Low Latency
All three controllers feature Hall effect strum bars and brand-new mechanical fret buttons, along with LED lighting on the neck, with the maker emphasizing extremely low latency. The Les Paul and SG models poll at 500Hz wireless / 1000Hz wired, while the 8K Explorer hits 8000Hz regardless of connection type.
This is an officially licensed collaboration with RedOctane, so the button and strum bar layouts on all three controllers match the official Stage Tour Kramer Wireless Guitar Controller—which retails for $110, alongside a $200 drum kit and a $30 wireless microphone in the same lineup. Worth noting: the drum kit hardware won't be supported on Switch 2 at launch, though players can substitute the Joy-Con 2 or Switch 2 Pro Controller for drumming. CRKD and Gibson have collaborated before, previously releasing a line of rhythm game guitar controllers inspired by Gibson's classic body shapes.
*Stage Tour* Supports 4-Player Local Play — Lead Singer, Drummer, and Keyboardist All Covered
The game itself supports lead guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboard, and gamepad play, with four difficulty tiers—Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert—plus an additional Expert Plus tier for drums. It supports up to four players locally, as well as solo play, online leaderboards, and cross-platform online co-op.
The release date was announced this past Tuesday during Gamescom Opening Night Live, alongside a new trailer revealing 20 additional tracks. The confirmed tracklist now stands at 45 songs, though the developers say that's still less than half of the full lineup—the total track count at launch will exceed 90.
