Summary
EA confirmed that the newSkatereboot will enter early access in 2025, but the game will not have an offline mode like previous entries in the series. The newSkategame will be free-to-play with microtransactions, and members of the Skate Insiders program can experience some of what San Vansterdam has to offer for gamers around the world later this year.
TheSkatereboot was revealed in 2020, nearly a decade after players experiencedSkate 3, the latest entry in the series, for the first time in 2010. Excitement for the game continued to build leading up tothe firstSkateplaytests in 2022. In recent years, EA expanded its playtests to more users and platforms, including PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Fans have known what to expect fromSkatefor a while now, although the wait continues for its early access release.
Skatewill enter early access later this yearwithout an offline mode, according to EA and Full Circle’sfirst “The Grind” blog post. The developers explain that Skate and the in-game city are designed to be a “living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox” that’s always online and evolving.Skateplayers will notice changes to the city over time with live events and other in-game activities. To fulfill this vision, Skate must require a live network connection just like in the playtest.
Skate Will Not Have an Offline Mode When the Early Access Version Launches in 2025
EA notes that Skate’s early access launch will be “Day One” of the live sandbox experience, and new features and improvements will be implemented in the weeks and months following the launch.Skate’scontroversial microtransactions from the playtestwill be present in the early access version and the full release. The developers note that money spent on San Van Bucks, the in-game paid currency, will support the ongoing development ofSkatewhile offering a system that feels fair to all players.
Extensive testing is being conducted in the PC andPlayStation playtests ofSkatein order to gauge player feedback about the microtransactions and “catch any issues or pain points.” It’s worth noting that the San Van Bucks spent during the playtest will be transferred to the early access version ofSkateupon launch. For example, if a player spends $20 in San Van Bucks, they will receive the same amount in return when Skate launches in early access this year.
Although the lack of an offline mode may be disheartening for longtimeSkatefans, they will have an opportunity to get into the playtest to try some of the game’s features. EA confirmed that a large wave of playtest invites for Skate will be sent out in June. More details about the game’s early access version will be revealed in the coming months as well.
