Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of the Skate franchise will require players to maintain an "always on" internet connection. This was confirmed in an updated FAQ section on the official blog by developer Full Circle, who provided a straightforward response: "The simple answer: No." They elaborated that the game is designed as a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This means players will experience both significant updates like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller, dynamic events and activities within the game.

The necessity of an "always on" connection implies that the game cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer single-player experiences. Full Circle emphasized that this requirement is integral to realizing their vision of a connected skateboarding world.

This development should not come as a surprise to those who participated in the playtests, as Full Circle noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest." The team kicked off its Always-On Playtest in September 2024, which is designed to test the game in a continuous live environment with servers running 24/7.

While Skate is slated for an early access launch in 2025, no specific release date has been set yet. Initially announced during EA Play in way back in 2020, the game was described as being in its "very early" stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has kept the community engaged through closed community playtests of early builds. Last month, they introduced microtransactions, allowing players to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can be used to acquire cosmetic items.

Full Circle aims to refine Skate's microtransaction system during the playtest phase. They stated, "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 price fluctuations observed during the playtest are part of the normal adjustment process. Additionally, participants will receive the equivalent amount of San Van Bucks (SVB) they spent during the playtest when the game resets for the Early Access launch.