Finally, confirmation of Rock Band 2! It’s coming in September of this year for the Xbox 360, and a little later in the year for all other platforms.

• Rock Band 2 to include new online modes, songs (Associated Press)
• Rock Band 2: The Opening Act (IGN)
• Rock Band 2: The AV Club Hands-On
• GameSpy Rock Band 2 Hands-On

Both articles are rather sparse; it sounds like the juicy stuff won’t be forthcoming until E3 the week of July 14th, later this month. Still, we do learn a few key facts:

1. Rock Band 2 will support all Rock Band 1 downloadable content. This is what everyone was hoping, so glad to hear it confirmed. Let the Rock Band DLC content buying sprees continue!
2. Improved (but still 100% compatible) versions of the guitar and drums will be released with Rock Band 2. Lots of room for improvement here!
3. 80 tracks of original music on the game disc

The new guitar looks basically the same to me. I was not at all fan of the old strat, so I remain unconvinced.

It sounds like they’re focusing on polishing the overall experience. Rock Band was such a fundamentally great game that I think this is exactly the right approach:

Rock Band 2 takes all the lessons we’ve learned from making a multi-instrument music game, addresses them, then adds some amazing new ways for you to experience your music library that have never been seen in a music game before. We’ve been scouring forums and parties everywhere for what people liked and didn’t like, and I’m pretty confident we’ve addressed everything I’ve heard people ask for.

We’ve taken almost everything people have asked for in Rock Band and added it to Rock Band 2, as well as including some “first time ever” features.

There are a few intriguing hints of deeper changes to gameplay, too:

… several new modes that not only provide new ways for you to experience your music library, but also new ways for you to transition from Expert to real instruments.

I’m glad to hear they’re expanding play options. In Rock Band 1, once you finish the World Tour, Quickplay is an unsatisfying way to experience the game. There’s no way to even save your high scores in Quickplay, except in the oddball PS2 and Wii versions of Rock Band.

A leaked vidcap screenshot of Rock Band 2 also revealed a few songs from the game’s tracklist:

• Dream Theater - Panic Attack
• System of a Down - Chop Suey
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
• Foo Fighters - Everlong
• Kim Wilde - Kids in America
• Motörhead - Ace of Spades
• Cheap Trick - Hello There
• Journey - Any Way You Want It
• The Who - Pinball Wizard
• Bad Religion - Sorrow

There are strong rumors that this will be the first rhythm game with an AC/DC track in it, as well.