Guitar Hero Live Gets Slightly Strange Multiplayer

In the first big update to GHTV in Guitar Hero Live, developer FreeStyle Games listened to community feedback and added head-to-head multiplayer, along with the ability to view someone else’s playercard and note highway. But probably not in the way you’re thinking. Interestingly enough, it will be the developers of Activision who will choose the songs, so players will have to be prepared for them. The Rival Challenges should come up twice in each half-hour block across all GHTV channels.

Once the challenge starts, you’ll see your rival’s note highway appear next to yours so you can see how you’re measuring up (Activision says the background matchmaking system will make sure you’re “of relatively close skill level” with your online foe).

The new feature called Rival Challenges is available in the GHTV section of the game and allows players to go against one and other for the highest score. The victor of each battle earns an extra +100 Status XP.

“As GHTV works right now you’re paired up with nine other people of similar skill level to do battle during a song and whoever wins gets the most status”.

Another bonus is showing off the personalization items you’ve earned in GHTV.

Other changes to Guitar Hero Live include the ability to favorite a song, either directly in the on-demand catalog or after you play a song in a channel. Neither player selects the song to be played, which is instead chosen by the game itself. This way, a new player won’t be overmatched against a veteran, so all of the music battles will be as fair as possible.

Looking beyond this new feature update for Guitar Hero Live, Activision also teased that some holiday-themed GHTV shows are on the way.