CRKD, a gaming accessory manufacturer, has partnered with Gibson to bring a new generation of guitar controllers. The collaboration has resulted in two Les Paul-shaped controllers designed for use in popular games such as Fortnite Festival, Clone Hero, and Rock Band 4.
The two models, the Gibson Les Paul Black Tribal Encore Edition Guitar Controller and the Gibson Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro Edition Guitar Controller, are equipped with features from classic gaming guitars, such as the whammy bar and colored frets, updated for modern gaming platforms. CRKD is offering both multi-platform and Xbox-specific versions of the controllers, each with slightly different features depending on the edition.
The Pro Edition boasts “engineered for unmatched precision and responsiveness” frets, a Hall-Effect whammy bar, and a Hall-Effect Strum Bar with haptic feedback. In contrast, the Encore Edition features traditional mechanical frets and a standard strum bar. Both guitars, however, are designed with modularity in mind, allowing users to purchase and swap out components in the future if desired.
Additionally, both controllers come with built-in analog sticks and a D-pad for navigating in-game menus. Players can connect their controllers through three methods: wired via USB, wirelessly through a 2.4GHz wireless dongle, or Bluetooth. The Xbox version is compatible with Xbox, PC, and Android, while the multi-platform version supports PC, Switch, Android, and PS3. If you’re a Guitar Hero player, the multi-platform version offers better compatibility with those games.
Guitar controllers lost popularity as the companies behind Guitar Hero and Rock Band gradually moved on or shut down. However, third-party PC games like Clone Hero and YARG, alongside Harmonix’s Fortnite Festival, which brought Rock Band-style gameplay to Fortnite in 2023, have kept the genre alive.
Pre-orders for the Gibson Les Paul Black Tribal Encore Edition Guitar Controller are now open for $109.99 for the multi-platform version and $119.99 for the Xbox version. The Gibson Les Paul Blueberry Burst Pro Edition Guitar Controller can be pre-ordered for $119.99 for the multi-platform version and $129.99 for the Xbox version. Both models are expected to ship in June 2025.
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