So, you switched systems or are new to Rock Band and want to get ready for RB4 by purchasing copies of older games and exporting them… well, it doesn’t look good:
Harmonix has said “Players who’ve purchased or downloaded playable tracks on last-generation consoles will be able to download and play those tracks on their new platforms at no additional charge”
HMX has also said, "The thing that I would say is, if you have not exported [the first two Rock Band games, as well as spin-offs Green Day Rock Band and LEGO Rock Band] yet, you should export them as soon as you can. IT'S THE EXPORT PIECE THAT HAS A LICENCE TERM ATTACHED TO IT that we can't hold over forever." [all caps mine].
They have gone on to clarify that anything that you have an export license for the songs to be on your hard drive will be made available in RB4. Thus, it seems to me, and this is a guess, but it seems to me just because you own the disc does not mean the songs will be available in RB4. If you never exported, you don’t have the license.
Rock Band
– This export was unique as it ripped the song files from the disc.
It looks like, on the 360, you can purchase the license directly from the marketplace here:
http://www.marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/0ccf0099-0000-4000-8000-000045410829
PS3 version is here:
https://store.playstation.com/#!/en...-key/cid=UP0006-BLUS30050_00-RB1EXPORTCCF0099
This does not mean it will work if you don’t already have the songs exported, but if you want to gamble $5 on the off chance that this being in your purchase history will allow the songs from RB1 (excluding the eight songs that didn’t export to RB3) to be playable in RB4, you can try to purchase it.
Rock Band 2
– The export license for RB2 has expired. If you have not already purchase the license and exported RB2 to RB3, you may be out of luck. At one point EA support was giving away codes for this, but last I heard that has ended (Mid-July). You can always give it a try.
Rock Band 2 bonus tracks
– No longer available in the store
LEGO: Rock Band
– The export license for this has also expired. If you have not already exported the songs, you will not be able to. [edit: every now and then there is a post saying export for this title still works even though Harmonix said the export license is no longer available. So, it may or may not work, if you are thinking about purchasing new just to export, please keep this in mind.]
TRACK PACKS
– I have in my purchase history a listing for my several Track Packs. The new game included a download code, if you get a new copy that has not already had the code used, you should be able to use the code to get the license which will allow RB4 know you owned this.
Rock Band: Blitz
– The soundtrack was downloaded separately, thus you should have the license in your history. If not, buy it now to get those songs.
Beatles: Rock Band
- Not available for export
Rock Band 3
- Not available for export.
Green Day: Rock Band
- The export license has expired, but the songs are available as DLC. [edit: every now and then there is a post saying export for this title still works even though Harmonix said the export license is no longer available. So, it may or may not work, if you are thinking about purchasing new just to export, please keep this in mind.] - as of July 31"Green Day RB still exports on EU PSN although the export must be done through the game itself, not RB3" per post below.
DLC
DLC that is no longer available for purchase: HMX said that even if you can’t currently buy a song in the store, if you purchased it before it was removed from the store you will still be able to get it in RB4.
DLC still available in store: As long as you buy the license, you are fine, even if you never download the song to your last gen system, it is all about your purchase history. You can buy it right now so your license shows up in the purchase history before Rock Band 4 is released.
NOTE about DLC: This is for officially licensed DLC, not necessary songs from the Rock Band Network. Also, not all DLC songs will be available at launch.
