Skate Game to Require Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will require players to maintain an "always on" internet connection, as confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. The team emphasized that this design choice is integral to their vision, stating, "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This means players will experience both large-scale changes to the city over time and smaller, dynamic in-game events and activities.

The "always on" requirement implies that the game cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer solo play. Full Circle explained, "To deliver on our vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection." This should come as no 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."

In September 2024, Full Circle initiated the Always-On Playtest, a phase dedicated to testing the game in a continuously running live environment. Skate’s early access is slated for 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. The project was first unveiled at EA Play way back in 2020, described then as being in its early stages of development. Since then, the developer has engaged the community with closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real-world money to purchase a virtual currency known as San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to ensure a smooth microtransaction experience, stating their desire for players to have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." They acknowledged the unusual nature of using real money during a playtest but believe it's essential for assessing and refining the system before the official launch. They reassured players that any money spent during the playtest would be converted into San Van Bucks (SVB) upon the reset for the Early Access launch, with potential adjustments to prices and other elements as part of the ongoing testing process.