Rhythm gaming is officially making a massive comeback, and if you spent your teenage years aggressively clicking a plastic strum bar in your living room, it is time to stretch those fingers.
CRKD has just announced their brand-new Stage Tour Pro Guitar Collection in a multi-year partnership with Gibson, and these controllers are a serious upgrade from the basic plastic instruments we all grew up with. Designed for the upcoming rhythm game Stage Tour, which launches on December 10, 2026, this new lineup features the kind of modern hardware that will make missing a note entirely your own fault.
Let’s dive into the three new premium additions that are about to take over your living room and drain your wallet.
The Iconic Gibson Explorer Returns
If you played rhythm games two decades ago, you probably remember the legendary Explorer. CRKD is celebrating its history with the Stage Tour 8K Gibson Explorer: 20th Anniversary Edition.
Recreated in its original colours with a sturdy fixed-neck design, this controller looks like a nostalgic dream but plays like a modern beast. It features an 8K high-speed chipset, which means it registers your inputs at up to 8,000Hz. Add in brand-new mechanical fret buttons and a Hall Effect click strum bar—which uses internal magnets to prevent wear and tear over time—and you have the fastest, most precise guitar controller CRKD has ever made.
Price: $298 AUD ($129.99 USD). Expected to ship in January 2027.
A Lost Piece of Gaming History Brought to Life
This next one is a genuine treat for gaming historians. The Stage Tour Gibson SG Midnight Blue Edition is actually based on a rare, unreleased prototype from the PlayStation 2 era.
Nearly twenty years later, CRKD has finally brought the concept into production. Coated in a sleek Midnight Blue, it features all the premium upgrades: mechanical frets, dynamic LED neck lighting, and a streamlined layout that moves the system buttons safely away from your enthusiastic strumming hand.
Price: $298 AUD ($129.99 USD). Expected to ship in December 2026.
The Classic Les Paul with a modern twist
Rounding out the collection is the Gibson Les Paul Oxblood Edition. It takes one of the most recognisable guitar shapes in the world and gives it the ultimate rhythm gaming treatment.
Just like the SG, it features pro-grade mechanical frets and the modernised Hall Effect strum bar. It also includes a built-in tilt sensor to easily activate your in-game “Stage Power”, though there is a dedicated button right on the face if you prefer not to swing your expensive new controller around the room.
Price: From $270 AUD ($119.99 USD for PC/Multi-platform, slightly more for Xbox). Expected to ship in December 2026.
Get Ready for Stage Tour
All of these controllers are built to sync perfectly with Stage Tour, the highly anticipated rhythm game launching globally this December for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
The game features over 90 officially licensed songs and allows up to four players to rock out together locally or online. Whether you want a traditional full band setup with drums and vocals, or a chaotic lineup of four lead guitars, the choice is yours. You can even collect over 180 authentic in-game guitars from Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer. Plus, these new controllers are compatible with legacy rhythm titles, meaning you can finally retire your dusty, squeaky old gear.
Pre-orders are live right now. It might be time to start warning your neighbours about your upcoming living room world tour.
