Players discovered the Easter egg shortly after release, revealing a box resembling Guitar Hero in a trash can on the Waterpark level, which has been interpreted as a disrespectful nod to Neversoft, the original developer of Guitar Hero.

Iron Galaxy, the studio behind the remake, is investigating how this Easter egg, humorously renamed 'Banjo Champion,' ended up in the game and has committed to removing it in an upcoming update following community feedback.

The Easter egg, which includes a Neversoft logo, is a long-standing joke referencing the studio's transition from Tony Hawk to Guitar Hero, and it previously appeared in the remastered Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2.

Despite the developers' intention to remove the Easter egg, many fans have expressed a desire to keep it, viewing it as a humorous nod to gaming history.

The game has received positive reviews, with an average score of 82 on Metacritic and a 4.5 out of 5 from Comic Book, praising it as a worthy follow-up to the original titles.

Critics have highlighted the game's fun gameplay, visual gags, and the inclusion of various accessibility options, such as gameplay speed adjustments that can increase difficulty.

Iron Galaxy released a trailer emphasizing the positive critical reception of the remake, which features classic level-based gameplay without open-world maps, focusing instead on timed objectives.

The remake is a faithful reimagining of the PS2 classics, known for their engaging gameplay and humorous visual gags, though it has faced some controversy over additional paid Easter eggs.

Iron Galaxy has publicly acknowledged the controversy, expressed respect for all game developers, and promised to remove the Easter egg in the next update after investigating how it was included.

The studio also stated they were unaware of how the Guitar Hero reference appeared and are actively investigating its origins, with plans for its removal.

The remake, available on multiple platforms including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, features new skaters, parks, and tricks, aiming to appeal to both nostalgic fans and new players.

The recently released remake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4, developed by Iron Galaxy and launched on July 12, 2025, across multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, has sparked controversy due to an Easter egg referencing Guitar Hero.