The Beatles are coming to a game console near you.
For the first time, the legendary group’s music will be featured in the lucrative video game market in a deal with MTV Games and Harmonix, creators of the “Rock Band” series. The game is scheduled to make its debut in time for next year’s holiday season.
“The project is a fun idea which broadens the appeal of The Beatles and their music. I like people having the opportunity to get to know the music from the inside out,” Paul McCartney said in a statement.
The game will not be titled “Rock Band,” but will work with the existing instruments — a guitar, drums and microphone.
Game developers also plan to introduce a keyboard, which would be a first in the music game market.
“That is the plan,” said Marty Bandier, chief executive of Sony/ATV, ajoint venture between Sony Corp. and trusts benefiting Michael Jackson, which owns the copyright on Beatles songs by John Lennonand McCartney.
“I would say that there will be interactive performances of The Beatles’ music as well as new dimensions that you haven’t seen from us before,” Harmonix Chief Executive Alex Rigopulos told reporters Thursday.