Guitar Hero Revival: Controller Unveiled for Wii (2025)

A New Guitar Hero Wii Controller Arrives in 2025: The Hyperkin Hyper Strummer

The gaming world is getting a nostalgic surprise: a new Guitar Hero controller for the Nintendo Wii, the Hyperkin Hyper Strummer, is launching January 8th, 2025, priced at $76.99 on Amazon. This release is likely aimed at retro gaming enthusiasts seeking a renewed experience with classic rhythm games.

The Wii, while a significant success for Nintendo in its time, is long discontinued (production ceased in 2013). Similarly, the Guitar Hero franchise has been dormant since 2015's Guitar Hero Live. The last Guitar Hero title on the Wii was 2010's Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.

Despite this, Hyperkin is introducing the Hyper Strummer, a new guitar controller designed for compatibility with Wii versions of Guitar Hero and select Rock Band titles (Rock Band 2, 3, The Beatles, Green Day, and Lego Rock Band). Note that it's incompatible with the original Rock Band. This updated model builds upon a previous Hyperkin controller and utilizes the Wii Remote for functionality.

Why a New Wii Guitar Hero Controller Now?

The target audience for this release isn't immediately obvious. However, the appeal lies in the retro gaming market and the potential for renewed interest in the Guitar Hero series. Many original Guitar Hero controllers have suffered wear and tear over the years, potentially leading to players abandoning the games. The Hyper Strummer offers a fresh, reliable alternative.

Furthermore, Guitar Hero's popularity has seen a recent uptick. Factors include the inclusion of a rhythm game experience within Fortnite, and the emergence of online challenges, such as completing Guitar Hero songs flawlessly. A new, responsive controller like the Hyper Strummer could be attractive to players tackling these challenges. The Hyper Strummer provides a solution for players wanting to revisit these classic games with a reliable, new controller.