"Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection"

EA's much-anticipated revival of the beloved Skate franchise will necessitate a constant internet connection, as confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. In response to queries about offline play, the team provided a straightforward "No," explaining that the game is designed to be a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox" that thrives on being "always online and always evolving." This design choice facilitates dynamic changes to the cityscape, live events, and other in-game activities, enhancing the immersive experience for players.

The requirement for an "always on" connection means that even solo players will need to stay connected to the internet. Full Circle emphasized that this is essential to realizing their vision of a connected skateboarding world. They noted that this should come as no surprise to those who have participated in their playtests, which began the Always-On Playtest phase in September 2024. This phase is dedicated to testing the game in a continuous live environment with servers running 24/7.

Skate is slated for an early access launch in 2025, though an exact date remains unconfirmed. Initially announced during EA Play back in 2020, the game was described as being in its very early stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and, more recently, introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real-world currency to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks (SVB), which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to refine Skate's microtransaction system during these playtests, ensuring a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." They acknowledge the unusual nature of using real money in a playtest but stress its importance in fine-tuning the system before the official launch. The team also reassured players that any money spent during the playtest will be converted to SVB and credited back upon the reset for the Early Access launch, with potential adjustments to prices and other elements being part of the testing process.