MTV and Harmonix, the makers of the popular Rock Band games, and Apple Corp announced Thursday that they will release a Beatles music game at the end of 2009.

Harmonix clarified, though, that the game will not be a “Rock Band expansion pack” (like Guitar Hero did with Guitar Hero: Aerosmith), but will rather be a “custom game built from ground up.” The game will take players through the Beatles’ entire career, from Please Please Me to Abbey Road.

The company did not reveal any other details, so no word yet on what songs will be included, if they’ll release new peripherals, or how it might play. However, Harmonix is working on the project with Beatles members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Giles Martin, producer of the Love album and son of Beatles producer George Martin.

Rock Band and Guitar Hero have been going head-to-head for the past year trying to secure exclusives. Activision, the company behind Guitar Hero, has secured Aerosmith, Metallica, and Jimi Hendrix, while Harmonix has secured AC/DC.