CRKD teases a modular Drum Kit Controller built for modern rhythm gaming

After reviving plastic axes with its well-received Gibson Les Paul–style guitar, CRKD is marching to a new beat: a dedicated drum kit controller. The teaser shows a four-pad, triple-cymbal layout finished in near-all black, with a chunky kick pedal and a control bar tucked under the pads that strongly hints at wireless operation. There’s no visible brand tie-in on the cymbals and no badges beyond CRKD’s own, suggesting this one launches without a licensing partner.

Official details are deliberately scarce. CRKD hasn’t named compatible platforms, connection standards, price, or release window beyond “next year.” Even so, the video reveals a few important cues. The frame appears to break down into smaller sections – legs, pad bridge, cymbal arms, pedal – so the whole rig should pack neatly into a trunk or closet, mirroring the portability of the company’s guitar with its removable neck and headstock. The status LEDs along the front bar imply a 2.4 GHz dongle or Bluetooth mode, and the pedal’s heft suggests CRKD is targeting the slap-happy abuse that rhythm drummers inevitably dish out.

Layout purists will note that this is a game controller first, not a faithful electronic kit. Pads sit closer than they would on an acoustic set, and the cymbals ride a bit high and tight. That’s by design: the geometry prioritizes fast, readable note charts over muscle-memory accuracy. In other words, it’s tuned for Clone Hero, YARG, and any future-friendly rhythm modes, not for woodshedding paradiddles. As for Fortnite Festival, drums aren’t supported there yet; if Epic flips the switch later, this kind of controller becomes an instant living-room headliner.

Community interest is already heating up for one simple reason: scarcity. Legacy Rock Band and Guitar Hero drum kits still work for many players, but they’re getting rare, brittle, and – on resale sites – shockingly expensive. Some fans have pivoted to hybrid setups, pairing affordable e-drum kits like the Alesis Nitro Max with PC adapters such as Roll Limitless to trigger in-game notes. That route is powerful but fiddly. CRKD seems to be aiming at the other end of the spectrum: a purpose-built, console-and-PC-friendly kit that just works, with no mapping spreadsheets, MIDI merges, or firmware gymnastics required.

Durability is the other elephant in the rehearsal room. Aging peripherals are notorious for crumbling cables and sun-baked plastics – anyone who’s watched a decade-old USB mic jacket flake into confetti knows the pain. If CRKD wants to win long-term loyalty, it needs to ship tougher materials, replaceable wear parts, and a warranty that outlasts the honeymoon tour.

What we’ll be watching between now and launch:

• Latency and feel: Does wireless keep timing tight under fast fills and dense double-kick sections?
• Compatibility: Console support, PC drivers, and whether the kit plays nicely with Clone Hero, YARG, and any officially supported games.
• Customization: Remappable lanes, sensitivity curves, crosstalk controls, and optional double-kick support.
• Build and spares: Pad rubber, pedal hinges, replaceable springs, and cymbal flex – plus easy-to-order parts.
• Price vs. alternatives: A clean, plug-and-play kit can justify a premium, but it’s competing with budget e-drums plus adapters.

CRKD’s guitar showed the company understands the nostalgia market without treating it like a museum. If this drum kit delivers low-latency play, sensible ergonomics, and stress-proof hardware, it could become the default upgrade path for players dusting off old libraries – or discovering rhythm games for the first time on PC. The question is less “is there demand?” and more “can CRKD nail the feel” in a category where timing, rebound, and reliability decide whether a plastic kit is a toy or an instrument.