The long-running Rock Band franchise is reaching another major turning point. Harmonix has confirmed that Rock Band 4, the last mainline entry in the rhythm game series, will be delisted from digital storefronts on October 5, 2025.

For anyone who already owns the game, there’s no immediate reason to panic. Harmonix has made it clear that existing purchases are safe. Players who bought Rock Band 4 digitally will still be able to redownload the title, and any downloadable content (DLC) already tied to their account will remain accessible. But for those who have been thinking about grabbing the game or expanding their library of songs, the clock is ticking.

The reason for the delisting isn’t surprising: music licensing. Every track included with Rock Band 4 was secured through timed agreements with record labels, artists, and rights holders. Now, with those original deals set to expire, Harmonix and its parent company Epic Games are unable to keep the game on sale. It’s the same story that has affected earlier Rock Band and Guitar Hero titles, which saw their availability shrink once licensing terms ran out.

This move comes not long after Harmonix wrapped up regular DLC support. In January 2024, the studio announced that new song additions were ending, with its focus shifting to Fortnite Festival, the music-driven spinoff mode built into Epic’s massive battle royale platform. Despite that shift, Rock Band 4 has maintained a loyal community, with Rivals seasons and online play keeping the spirit of living-room band sessions alive.

Once October 5 passes, the only way to get the game will be second-hand physical copies, which may drive up prices in the collector’s market. DLC also faces a slow fade any pack or single that hits its own 10-year expiration mark will eventually disappear from sale as well.

For fans who have been meaning to dive in, now is the last chance. Rock Band 4 represents not just the end of its series, but also the tail end of an era when rhythm games commanded living rooms around the world. With the delisting looming, it might be the right time to dust off that plastic guitar, fire up one last setlist, and remember what made the franchise such a cultural phenomenon.