"Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection"

EA's eagerly awaited revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection, as revealed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. The team provided a straightforward response to offline play queries: "No." They elaborated, "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving. You’ll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities."

An "always on" requirement implies that the game cannot be played without an internet connection, even for solo play. Full Circle emphasized that this approach is crucial to realize their vision of a dynamic skateboarding world, stating, "To deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection."

The developer noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest," referencing the Always-On Playtest initiated in September 2024. This phase aims to test the game in a continuously live environment, with servers operating non-stop.

Skate’s early access is slated for 2025, though a precise date remains undisclosed. Initially announced at EA Play way back in 2020, the project was described as "very early" in development. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds. Last month, they introduced microtransactions, allowing players to purchase a virtual currency named San Van Bucks, which can be used to acquire cosmetic items.

Full Circle expressed their intent to refine the microtransaction system, noting, "We know that using real money during a playtest is a little unusual, but we think it’s the best way to properly assess and adjust the system before launch." They reassured players that any money spent during the playtest would be converted into San Van Bucks (SVB) at the Early Access launch, explaining, "If you see prices or other things changing over time, please understand that this is normal. And of course, you will receive the amount you spent during playtesting in San Van Bucks (SVB) when we reset for Early Access launch."