Jon Hare returns to WAR on 11th November
Sensible Software co-founder Jon Hare leads a major new recording of Cannon Fodder’s iconic anti-war song, featuring the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, a new video by Swedemason and original Cannon Fodder artist Stoo Cambridge.
A full-scale recording featuring a band, horn section and orchestra gives the 1993 song a new dimension. Fans can download the track for free by joining the new Sensible Army community. YouTube views across versions and uploads are approaching one million.
In 1993, Jon Hare and Richard Joseph wrote ‘WAR’ as part of the groundbreaking introductory sequence for Cannon Fodder, the acclaimed and controversial game from British independent developer Sensible Software.
Now, more than three decades later, Hare and Sensible Band have taken a break from touring retro games festivals around Europe to re-record the song at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales, giving it a new scale while preserving its dark humour and anti-war message.
The new recording brings together a full band, a horn section and the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, whose work spans film and video game soundtracks. The track was mixed by Tim Lewis and mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios.
For Hare, the project is also a statement about the value of human creativity at a time when AI-generated music is flooding the market.
“Thirty-three years after Cannon Fodder first launched on the Commodore Amiga, our new version of ‘WAR’ launches into an ocean of AI-generated musical slop. The difference is simple. Every note has been played by real, talented musicians on real instruments. Twelve musicians, a full orchestra, recorded at Rockfield and mastered at Abbey Road. No shortcuts, no fakery.“The video was filmed in the studios where we recorded the music, brought to life by the brilliant Swede Mason, with animation from Stoo Cambridge, the original Cannon Fodder artist.
“Sensible Band is about making art, not manufacturing content. Our art is going to WAR again. It's time to choose which side you're on.”Jon Hare, Sensible Software co-founder and Sensible Band
This is more than a nostalgic return to a much-loved game. The new production gives the song a cinematic scale while bringing its original message into sharper focus. Beneath its provocative title and dark humour lies a pointed satire on the absurdity of war and the human cost of conflict.
A CONTROVERSIAL SONG THAT STILL RESONATES
When Cannon Fodder was released in 1993, its red poppy imagery and the slogan ‘War Has Never Been So Much Fun’, taken from the song WAR, attracted controversy. Some critics, including The Daily Star, accused the game of disrespecting the war dead. But the provocation was central to its intent. Sensible Software used humour to challenge the way war is presented, turning the familiar language of video games into a comment on the grim reality behind the action.
The new video premieres on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2026. Its release date is deliberate, but this is not a Remembrance Day tribute. The song is an anti-war statement, using satire to question the glorification of conflict rather than celebrate it.
The track's continued life online suggests its message has not lost its impact. Across covers, remixes, fan uploads and alternative versions, YouTube views are approaching one million.
A NEW VISUAL WORLD FOR SENSIBLE BAND
The accompanying video has been created by Swedemason, known for his inventive, irreverent approach to music and video. It brings together Sensible Band, the horn section, the orchestra and original Cannon Fodder artist Stoo Cambridge, whose distinctive artwork helped define the game's identity.
The video also introduces The Sensibles, a cast of animated miniature characters drawn from the distinctive visual world of Sensible Software. They bring a fresh dimension to the project while reconnecting it with the playful personality and irreverent humour that defined the original games.
Sensible Software always had a strong identity of its own. Its games combined clever design with an irreverent British sense of humour, often taking unexpected approaches to familiar subjects. That same spirit runs through Sensible Band, from the music and visuals to the storytelling around the project.
FROM SENSIBLE SOFTWARE TO SENSIBLE BAND
Founded in Britain in the 1980s, Sensible Software became one of the most distinctive independent developers of its era. Alongside Cannon Fodder, its catalogue included seven number one games across Europe, with games like Sensible Soccer and Wizball remembered not only for their playability, but also for their character and originality.
Sensible's games generated global sales worth approximately $800m before the turn of the millennium, Cannon Fodder sold more than 500,000 copies across all platforms and was played by an estimated 12 million people across Europe. Its reach extended far beyond official sales, as unofficial copies helped the game travel between players and across borders.
The influence of Sensible Software has endured well beyond the original releases. Sensible Soccer continues to inspire tournaments, competitions and a dedicated international community, with players still gathering around updated versions and the enduring SWOS scene. For many, these games are part of a shared culture rather than simply a memory of an earlier era of gaming.
Music was central to that identity. Sensible Software's games had a distinctive sound, and ‘War Has Never Been So Much Fun’ remains one of its most recognisable musical statements.
Sensible Band now takes that legacy into a new setting, treating the music as a body of work in its own right. The project brings together music, animation and film, with a new album and documentary exploring the people, music and creative history behind Sensible Software.
A NEW ALBUM AND COLLECTOR'S VINYL RELEASES
The new recording of ‘WAR’ is the first taste of a complete Sensible Band album, now recorded and scheduled for release in January 2027.
The project will also be accompanied by a documentary exploring the story behind the music, the people involved and the wider creative legacy of Sensible Software.
For those who enjoy owning music as well as listening to it, Sensible Band will release physical editions in Spring 2027. These will include a standard vinyl edition alongside a highly collectable special edition vinyl box set.
Taking inspiration from the days when opening a new computer game was an experience in itself, the special edition is being conceived as a premium collector's package. A celebration of the music, artwork and distinctive visual world of Sensible Software, it will include the album alongside exclusive elements created especially for the release.
The idea is to recapture something of the excitement of those original game boxes, where the artwork, packaging and contents were all part of the experience. Full details of the special edition and its contents will be announced shortly.
RELEASE DETAILS
WAR Video premiere: 11 November 2026
WAR Single release: 13 November 2026, on all major streaming platforms
WAR Free download: Available to Sensible Army members via https://sensibleband.com
Cannon Fodder Album: January 2027
Cannon Fodder Standard vinyl edition: Spring 2027
Cannon Fodder Special edition vinyl box set: Spring 2027
Sensible Band Documentary: In development
WAR CREDITS
Artist: Sensible Band
Written by: Jon Hare and Richard Joseph
Produced by: Jon Hare and Andrew Barnabas
Co-producer: Tom White
Lead vocals: Jon Hare
Background vocals: Tom White, Pawel Krulikowski, Andrew Barnabas, Aleksander “Olo” Grochocki, Tony Hardwick, Filip Marcinkowski, Mark Knight
Drums and percussion: Tom White
Bass: Pawel Krulikowski
Keyboards: Andrew Barnabas
Lead guitar: Aleksander “Olo” Grochocki
Guitars: Tony Hardwick, Filip Marcinkowski
Trumpet: Tom Walsh
Saxophones: Ollie Weston and Stacey Dawson
Trombone: Sam Sankey
Featuring: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording engineers: Jack Boston, Marcus Locock, Vitek Kral
Mixing engineer: Tim Lewis
Mastering engineer: Christian Wright, Abbey Road Studios
Video created by: Swedemason
Featuring: The Sensibles, created by Stoo Cambridge (original Cannon Fodder artist)