Fresh Beats for the Longship: Ragnarock Expands Library with Free Tracks
The popular Viking-themed VR rhythm title, Ragnarock, has officially broken its musical silence. Wanadev Studio, the team behind the experience, recently deployed an update that introduces two new licensed songs to the game’s tracklist at no additional cost to players. This marks the first expansion of the game’s library since the release of the paid Viking Music Pack in the summer of 2025, which featured five premium tracks.
New Additions to the Setlist
Players can now test their drumming skills against two distinct rock anthems:
- “Hard Rock Hallelujah” by Lordi: The iconic 2006 Eurovision-winning track.
- “Strangeland” by Mister Misery: A high-energy cut originally released in 2020.
Alongside these additions, the developers have refreshed the onboarding experience. Due to the expiration of licensing rights for the previous tutorial track, “Call of the North,” players will now be greeted by “To Erebor” when learning the ropes of the game.
The Challenges of Licensing in VR Rhythm Games
While titles like Beat Saber and Synth Riders have maintained a rapid cadence of content drops throughout 2026, Ragnarock has adopted a more measured approach. Wanadev Studio-also known for their work on Propagation: Paradise Hotel and Vestiges-offered transparency regarding why new music arrives less frequently than in competing titles.
Securing music for a rhythm game is a complex, multi-stage endeavor. According to the developers, the process is far from a simple “plug and play” scenario. Before a single note can be mapped to the game’s mechanics, the team must navigate a labyrinth of legal requirements:
- Rights Acquisition: Identifying and contacting the correct copyright holders.
- Approval Cycles: Obtaining formal authorization from labels and artists.
- Fair Compensation: Ensuring that the financial agreements meet the standards of the creators involved.
This rigorous vetting process ensures that the music is legally sound and that artists are properly rewarded, though it inevitably extends the timeline between updates. As the VR rhythm genre continues to grow-with industry reports suggesting the global VR gaming market is expected to reach significant valuation milestones by 2027-the competition for high-profile music licenses remains fierce. For Ragnarock, the focus remains on quality and sustainability over sheer volume.
