UPDATE: We heard back from EA this evening. They tell us that the message to players was an error, and Rock band is NOT being turned off after May 31.

Here’s the original post, for posterity’s sake:

Have you been thinking about shelling out $4.99 so you can play Rock Band on your iPhone? Don’t. EA surprised users a few days ago with a notification that the game would no longer be playable after May 31, no matter when you bought it. Yes, you can still buy it today. And presumably until May 30.

It’s the chipper tone of the message that’s so annoying. “Thanks for rocking out with us!” it says. “Sorry we killed your game!” is what it doesn’t say.

We’re hearing that the game doesn’t require a server to play, so a server shutdown can’t be the reason. It was released in 2010, but is that a reason to shut off a game that customers have already paid for?

If you just purchased Rock Band, don’t fret. Officially, all iTunes purchases are final, but there is a way around that. You can request a refund from the App Store for any purchase.

Update, 12:45 AM, 5/3 – We heard back from EA: players will be able to keep on rocking. Here’s their statement:

Rock Band for iOS will remain live – the in-app message users received yesterday was sent in error. We apologize for the confusion this caused. We’re working to clarify the issue that caused the error and will share additional information as soon as possible.

Wtf!? “Thanks”, EA! [Reddit]
How to Get a Refund from the App Store[Gizmodo]

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