Sound System Combines Rhythm Action with Community Music Creation
Echo Foundry Interactive has announced that its upcoming rhythm game Sound System will launch on Steam on October 16, 2026, priced at $24.99. The studio, founded by industry veterans who previously worked on franchises like Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and DJ Hero, aims to bring the music genre back with modern features and strong community-driven support.
Designed as a next-generation rhythm experience, Sound System lets players shred guitar, play bass, or perform vocals using a variety of inputs including keyboards, controllers, compatible guitar peripherals, or microphones. The game will also support both local split-screen play and online multiplayer. Players can team up for cooperative band performances that share score multipliers and visual effects or compete head-to-head in stage control battles.
At launch, Sound System will feature a music catalog of more than 50 songs, blending familiar studio covers with tracks from established indie acts and rising artists. Echo Foundry says the goal is to balance nostalgia with music discovery. Songs from indie and emerging artists will always be free, while studio covers will cost $0.99 each. The developers also plan to support the game with ongoing DLC releases, including exclusive singles from both new and established bands and frequent store updates.
The game will feature three distinct gameplay modes designed for different skill levels. Classic Mode delivers the traditional arcade-style rhythm experience with forgiving timing windows and a no-fail system intended for casual players. Pro Mode tightens the timing and introduces competitive scoring tiers such as Perfect, Great, and Good, while Hardcore Mode raises the stakes with a one-miss-and-you’re-out format aimed at elite players and leaderboard competitors.
Customization also plays a major role. Players can personalize their performances with adjustable note highways, themed visual layouts, dynamic scoring widgets, and a variety of static or FMV backgrounds.
One of the game’s most ambitious features is the PulseMap Editor, an in-game creation tool described as “Mario Maker meets Guitar Hero.” It allows players to upload music, design note charts from scratch, edit existing ones, and share them with the community. Artists can even upload original songs and watch them become playable charts in the game.
Players can wishlist Sound System now on Steam ahead of its October release.
Source: Press Release