Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's eagerly awaited revival of Skate will necessitate a constant internet connection, as confirmed by developer Full Circle in their updated FAQ on the official blog. They provided a straightforward response: "No," explaining that "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This includes significant changes like city modifications over time, as well as smaller updates such as live events and other in-game activities.

An "always on" internet requirement means that even solo players cannot enjoy the game offline. Full Circle emphasized that this connectivity is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world." They noted that this shouldn't come as a shock to those who have participated in their playtests, as the team launched the Always-On Playtest in September 2024 to evaluate the game in a continuous live environment with servers running 24/7.

The early access release of Skate is slated for 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. Initially revealed at EA Play way back in 2020, the game was described as being in its "very early" stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has maintained engagement with the community through closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real money to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to refine Skate's microtransaction system during the playtest, seeking to ensure 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 crucial for fine-tuning the system before the official launch. They also reassured players that any money spent during the playtest will be converted into San Van Bucks (SVB) at the Early Access launch, even if prices and other elements may fluctuate during the testing phase.