Hammering the Drums: Ragnarock Expands Library with Two New Tracks Amidst Licensing Challenges

The rhythm gaming landscape in virtual reality has long been defined by the tension between community demand and the grueling legal realities of music licensing. Ragnarock, the acclaimed Viking-themed drumming game developed by the French-based Wanadev Studio, has officially broken its relative silence on the content front. In a long-awaited update, the studio has added two new licensed tracks to the game, marking the first injection of new music into the title since the release of the Viking Music Pack in July 2025.

For a player base accustomed to the rapid-fire content cycles of genre titans like Beat Saber or Synth Riders, this update serves as both a welcome respite and a reminder of the complex logistical machinery required to keep a rhythm game’s tracklist legally sound.

The New Additions: A Hard Rock Injection

The update introduces two high-energy tracks that fit seamlessly into Ragnarock’s established aesthetic of folk, metal, and symphonic rock.

First, players can now hammer their way through ‘Strangeland’ by the Swedish gothic metal band Mister Misery, released in 2020. Known for their theatrical flair and modern metal production, the track offers a driving rhythm that tests the precision and stamina of the most seasoned Viking drummers.

Joining it is the legendary 2006 Eurovision winner, ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ by the Finnish heavy metal band Lordi. A cultural phenomenon upon its release, the song’s anthemic, bombastic percussion makes it an ideal fit for the game’s core loop. These tracks are being offered to the existing player base for free, a gesture of goodwill that Wanadev hopes will satiate the community’s hunger for fresh content.

A Changing of the Guard: The Tutorial Song

Alongside the new additions, Wanadev Studio has implemented a necessary change to the game’s onboarding experience. The former tutorial song, ‘Call of the North,’ has been removed from the game entirely due to the expiration of its licensing agreement. It has been replaced by ‘To Erebor.’

This transition highlights the precarious nature of digital ownership and licensing in the modern era. Even for a title as established as Ragnarock, music rights are rarely perpetual. When an agreement ends, developers are often contractually obligated to pull content from their libraries, a reality that can occasionally leave players frustrated when their favorite "warm-up" tracks disappear without warning.

Chronology of Content: The Pace of Development

To understand the significance of this update, one must look at the timeline of Ragnarock’s support. Since its launch, the game has built a reputation for high-quality, perfectly synced percussion gameplay. However, its cadence of updates has been markedly different from the industry leaders.

• Launch and Early Growth: Following its successful release, Ragnarock quickly established a loyal following, focusing on high-octane metal and folk tracks that felt tailor-made for the VR drumming experience.
• July 2025: The Viking Music Pack arrived as a paid add-on, bringing five new tracks to the game. It was a well-received expansion, but it also set a high bar for quality that the studio struggled to maintain in the immediate aftermath.
• Late 2025 – Early 2026: A period of relative quiet ensued, during which the community began to voice concerns over the lack of new music. During this window, competitors such as Beat Saber and Synth Riders maintained a aggressive release schedule, dropping multiple music packs and free updates throughout 2026.
• The Current Update: By releasing ‘Strangeland’ and ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah,’ Wanadev is attempting to reset the conversation, signaling that while their output may be slower than the industry average, the quality remains a priority.

Supporting Data: The Mechanics of Licensing

The central narrative surrounding this update is not just the music itself, but the "how" and "why" of its arrival. In an era where rhythm games are often expected to provide monthly content drops, Wanadev Studio has provided a rare, transparent look into the industry’s "black box."

In a detailed post, the developer outlined the multi-month process required to bring a single track to the virtual stage:

1. Identification and Outreach: The team must first identify music that fits the game’s specific tempo and genre requirements.
2. Rights Holder Engagement: This is the most significant hurdle. Music rights are often fragmented between labels, publishers, and the artists themselves. Negotiating with all parties is a process that can take months.
3. Approval and Compensation: Every song must be licensed via a formal contract that includes royalty payments. Wanadev emphasizes that they refuse to cut corners, ensuring that every artist represented in Ragnarock is fairly compensated for their work.
4. Mapping and QA: Only after the legal clearance is secured does the actual development work begin. The team must then "map" the song to the drums, ensuring the beats align perfectly with the audio cues, followed by rigorous testing to ensure playability.

This process is fundamentally different from that of Beat Games (the developers of Beat Saber). As a subsidiary of Meta, Beat Games benefits from the massive legal and financial infrastructure of a trillion-dollar company. When Meta wants a high-profile artist for Beat Saber, they have the leverage to clear rights in a fraction of the time. Wanadev, by contrast, is an independent studio with a smaller footprint, balancing Ragnarock’s needs with other ambitious projects like the co-op horror title Species Unknown.

Implications: Quality vs. Velocity

The core implication for the rhythm gaming community is a fundamental choice between two models of service.

The first model, exemplified by Beat Saber, is the "Live Service" model. It relies on a high volume of content, corporate-level licensing muscle, and a constant rotation of popular music. This keeps players engaged through sheer variety and frequency of updates.

The second model, which Ragnarock occupies, is the "Artisan" model. Because Wanadev is not backed by a tech conglomerate, they are forced to be more selective. They prioritize tracks that are not just "popular," but that possess a specific percussive quality that makes for a great drumming experience.

However, the risk of the Artisan model is clear: momentum. If the gap between updates grows too long, the player base may migrate to platforms that offer a more consistent stream of novelty. By choosing to release these two tracks for free, Wanadev is signaling that they remain committed to the game’s longevity, even if they cannot compete with the sheer volume of content produced by larger competitors.

Conclusion: The Long Road Ahead

Ragnarock remains one of the most immersive VR rhythm experiences on the market. Its unique approach to the genre—focusing on the physical act of drumming rather than the abstract slicing of notes—has secured its place in the VR library.

While this latest update may not be as expansive as a full music pack, it serves as a critical maintenance milestone. It demonstrates that the studio is listening to its community and that it is willing to be transparent about the limitations of its size and the complexities of the music industry. As Wanadev balances the development of Ragnarock alongside new projects like Species Unknown, the community can expect that while the drums may beat at a deliberate pace, they will continue to beat for the foreseeable future.

Ragnarock is currently available on Steam, Meta Quest, and PlayStation VR2, providing a uniquely visceral rhythm experience for those who prefer their music with a side of Viking thunder.