Activision is offering complete refunds for those who purchased Guitar Hero Live after accusations of false advertising. Guitar Hero TV was a streaming service that took the game’s music library from a measly 42 songs up to 500. Whilst TV itself didn’t cost extra, it was advertised as a key part of Guitar Hero Live’s future around its launch date.
It would appear the refund is only available for US based customers who purchased the game between December 1st, 2017 and January 1st, 2019. The choice to not offer refunds outside of the US is questionable at best. Customers who are looking to opt into the voluntary refund program will need to provide proof of their purchase via a credit card statement or receipt.
Guitar Hero TV was actually taken down last December but this decision was met with strongly voiced criticism. A man based in Vermont even went as far to file a class action lawsuit against Activision for misleading customers over the service’s lack of longevity. This isn’t the first time Activision has had to deal with legal action over misinformation either, with Destiny causing an equally large outcry with their investors recently.
The service itself worked similarly to streaming platforms like Spotify as it offered hundreds of free tracks to expand the game’s otherwise lackluster track list. Whilst it was running, it was a good service that made Guitar Hero Live far more affordable than the old school DLC model many 2000s Guitar Hero games utilized. Jamie Jackson, creative director of Guitar Hero Live, highlighted this in a past developer update.
“Bottom line, we wanted to bring as much music as possible to gamers. Whether you are a music explorer who wants to try a little bit of everything or a completionist who wants to master the toughest songs, GHTV gives you the freedom and flexibility to play the way you want. You never have to pay an extra dime after buying the base game and we will keep pumping new music into your living room.“
With that service now removed from the game, Guitar Hero Live feels like an empty shell devoid of content. Primary competitor Rock Band 4 still offers literal thousands of available tracks whilst Activision’s rhythm game doesn’t even hit 50. It’s admirable that Activision has acknowledged they did not deliver on their promises and have offered refunds. However, with refunds being limited to just America, there’s no doubt a lot of customers will be left with nothing to show for their purchase.
