1.1492325-3510236930
In this July 7, 2007 file photo, Freddie Wong, 21, of Seattle, Washington, plays Guitar Hero II on stage at the World Series of Video Games, in Grapevine, Texas. Image Credit: AP

The publisher of Guitar Hero is readying a comeback tour.

Activision Blizzard Inc announced plans on Tuesday to resurrect the once-popular video game franchise. The new entry scheduled for release this autumn is titled Guitar Hero Live and introduces a redesigned guitar, live-action actors and an online music video network.

Guitar Hero Live will cast players as an up-and-coming guitarist in a fictitious band. Instead of playing along with computer-generated characters, wannabe rockers will see a first-person view of their band mates and audiences portrayed by human actors.

During its prime in 2009, the Guitar Hero series topped $2 billion (Dh7.3 billion) in sales. Activision abandoned the franchise in 2011 after sales dipped.

The Guitar Hero revival follows last month’s tease that Rock Band developer Harmonix is bringing back its own performance series.