Today, Harmonix and EA revealed the release date for the slightly anticipated Green Day: Rock Band. One of at least two Rock Band titles shipping this year (crossing my fingers that Pearl Jam: Rock Band is still happening), including the just announced Rock Band 3, Green Day: Rock Band will slap authority in the face with forty-seven tracks spanning the band's career starting on June 8th.

The game will feature harmonies, which debuted in Beatles: Rock Band, and will also get a similar set of bonus features like photos and interviews, some of which have never been seen before. All of this is well and good for Green Day fans, though I'm not sure how good this is for Rock Band fans. Given recent events concerning Neversoft and Red Octane, it's easy to see that no franchise or genre is bulletproof, though I'd say the quality of Harmonix's work buys them a bit more leeway in the over-saturated market. That said, EA's plan to charge ten dollars more for a version of the game that comes with the ability to transfer the tracks kind of sucks. The only reason I would ever get this is to import the songs over to my gigantic Rock Band playlist because I hate the idea of being confined to one band all night. Ultimately, it's worth it, but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

I'm curious to see how this game is going to sell. As far as a fanbase willing to buy this game, I'm not sure Green Day is the band Harmonix thinks it is. Of course, I could be completely wrong, and this game will sell well over a million copies. Since it's not getting a big bundle, which is smart, the chances of this game being a success are probably pretty good. I mean, it's at least got to do better than Guitar Hero: Van Halen, right?

Feast your eyes on the official press release below... if you dare.

Multi-platinum selling and Grammy® Award winning group Green Day, along with  Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), and Reprise / Warner Bros. Records today announced that Green Day: Rock Band™, the full standalone music video game experience that celebrates Green Day’s historic career and genre-defining albums will launch worldwide June 8, 2010, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from Nintendo. 

Green Day: Rock Band allows players to step onto the stage and into the shoes of Green Day, the multi-platinum, Grammy® Award-winning band that jump-started the punk-pop revival and has continued to pave the way for American rock music into the 21st century. Taking on the likenesses of Green Day members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool, players progress through the story and history of Green Day, gaining access into the band’s media vault, where they can unlock more than 100 collectible images, and more than 40 minutes of rare and unreleased video from interviews, outtakes and performances. 

Featuring the three-part vocal harmony technology Harmonix introduced with the award-winning The Beatles™: Rock Band™, Green Day: Rock Band gives players access to an incredible setlist of 47 tracks that span the band’s career including “Brain Stew,” “Jaded,” “Hitchin’ a Ride,” “American Idiot,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”All 47 tracks are fully exportable, providing players with the opportunity to play the songs in Rock Band™, Rock Band 2™ and the recently announced Rock Band™3![1]  In addition, the six Green Day tracks already available in the Rock Band Music Store as downloadable content can be played in Green Day: Rock Band with added vocal harmonies, unique performance visuals, and exclusive archival material. 

Green Day: Rock Band pricing is as follows:

Green Day: Rock Band standalone game for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system

• US MSRP $59.99

Green Day: Rock Band standalone game for Wii system

• US MSRP $49.99

Green Day: Rock Band Plus for Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 system (US/Canada only)

• US MSRP $69.99
• Includes special packaging, export and six Green Day DLC tracks ($22 total value)

Green Day: Rock Band will be released simultaneously in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii. The game is compatible with all Rock Band™ instrument controllers, as well as most Guitar Hero® and other third-party music video game peripherals and microphones.

This latest Rock Band title aims to encapsulate the spirit and energy of a band that has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and been hailed as one of the best live acts touring today. Green Day has won critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Performance for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot and Record of the Year for their smash hit "Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Earlier this year, Green Day released their eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, on Reprise Records. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, as well as on the Rock, Active Rock and Alternative charts, fueled by the alternative radio No. 1 single “Know Your Enemy,” and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

Green Day: Rock Band is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.