Alex Rigopulous, one of the co founders of Harmonix and its Chief Executive Officer, has emphatically declared that Rock Band, the multi million dollar selling franchise created in collaboration with MTV Games, would not be getting a new entry in 2009.

The developer made the remarks as part of a speech that he delivered at the Consumer Electronic Show at an event called Digital Music Live that was put together by Billboard. Crispy Gamer reports that the developer said “We’ve actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year. Partly because the annual cycle places limits on the choices you can make as a developer. We’re trying to take a long term view.”

He then added that Electronic Arts, the publisher of Rock Band, “knows how important this series is and they’re willing to give it the time it needs.” If the developer has a whole year’s time to create a new game, they will have the time to think up and implement new and appealing features, while maintaining interest in the titles already released through track packs.

There is a lot of data available showing that the music simulation game craze, which made the Guitar Hero and the Rock Band franchises commercial successes, might be coming to an end. The latest iterations of both series sold lower than initially thought and the developers working on them really need to come up with something new in order to attract attention.

Even if Rock Band 3 does not come in 2009, Harmonix has already entered into an agreement with the Apple Group (not that one!) regarding the development of a Beatles music game featuring the biggest hits of the British band. The title will not bear the Rock Band name and has no clear release date.