EA's much-awaited revival of the beloved Skate franchise will mandate an "always on" internet connection, as confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. The team gave a straightforward response to the question of offline play: "The simple answer: No." They elaborated that the game is designed to be a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This means players can expect the city to change over time, alongside live events and other dynamic in-game activities.
An "always on" requirement implies that the game cannot be played without an internet connection, even for those who prefer solo sessions. Full Circle emphasized that this approach is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world." They noted that this shouldn't come as a surprise to those who have participated in their playtests, particularly the Always-On Playtest that began in September 2024. This phase is dedicated to testing the game in a continuously live environment with servers running non-stop.
Skate is slated for an early access launch in 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. The project was first revealed during EA Play in 2020, described then as being in its "very early" stages. Since that announcement, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.
Players can now 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 refine Skate's microtransaction system during these playtests, ensuring players have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." They acknowledge that using real money in a playtest setting is unconventional but necessary for assessing and adjusting the system before the official launch. The team also reassured players that any money spent during the playtest will be returned in San Van Bucks (SVB) when the game resets for the early access launch, and they should expect to see prices and other elements change over time as part of the testing process.
