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. Hyperkin's Hyper Strummer, launching January 8th, 2025, for $76.99 on Amazon, caters to the enduring appeal of rhythm games and retro gaming.
This release is unexpected, given the Wii's discontinuation in 2013 and the Guitar Hero franchise's last mainline entry in 2015. The last Guitar Hero title on the Wii itself was 2010's Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Yet, Hyperkin is reviving this pairing.
The Hyper Strummer, an updated model from a previous Hyperkin controller, is designed for compatibility with various Wii rhythm games. It works with Guitar Hero titles and several Rock Band games on the Wii (Rock Band 2, 3, The Beatles, Green Day, and Lego Rock Band), but not the original Rock Band. The controller utilizes a Wii Remote inserted into its back.
The Appeal of a Retro Controller
The target audience for this new controller is clear: retro gamers. The market for Wii consoles and Guitar Hero games is niche, but a significant number of players likely experienced controller wear-and-tear over the years, hindering their ability to revisit these titles. The Hyper Strummer offers a solution, allowing players to overcome broken or damaged legacy controllers.
Furthermore, renewed interest in Guitar Hero is evident. The inclusion of a Guitar Hero-style experience in Fortnite, along with the growing popularity of "perfect run" challenges, highlights a resurgence in the genre. A new, reliable controller like the Hyper Strummer is an attractive option for those seeking to conquer these challenges.
