Hyperkin says the Hyper Strummer features a similar design to older hardware but uses improved internal components. | Image: Hyperkin
Hyperkin opened preorders for a new guitar-shaped controller on New Year’s Day, but it isn’t compatible with Harmonix’s Fortnite Festival music game that debuted on the Switch in late 2023. In fact, the Hyper Strummer isn’t compatible with the Switch at all. It only works with the 18-year-old Nintendo Wii, and the older Guitar Hero and Rock Band rhythm game titles released for that console.
The $76.99 Hyper Strummer could have potentially been a cheaper alternative to Fortnite Festival-compatible guitar controllers like PDP’s $129.99 Riffmaster. But it only works with a Wiimote slotted into the back, and is not compatible with modern gaming hardware like the Xbox Series X / S or the PlayStation 5.
Its design also appears identical to the Guitar Hero controller Hyperkin released in 2009 during the Wii era, which led to accusations on X that the company was repackaging and selling old stock as a new product.
We wanted to address the following concerns on the recently announced Hyper Strummer. pic.twitter.com/3tyKvZSief
— Hyperkin (@Hyperkin) January 2, 2025
Hyperkin responded to the accusations with a statement shared on X explaining why the Hyper Strummer looks so similar to older hardware. “While it is correct that this is the same shell mold of a previous Hyperkin release from 2009, that is all it is. We used the mold to make brand new shells, fitted with new 2024 internal components. This is not old stock, nor is it old guitars that have been sitting in a warehouse.”
The company says the modernized Hyper Strummer was “developed to meet the demand for an accessible and budget-friendly solution, perfect for retro gamers who want to enter the guitar scene in 2025 at an affordable price.” Instead of risking buying used hardware online that potentially turns out to be non-functional, devoted Guitar Hero fans who have refused to upgrade their Nintendo Wiis now have another option.