"Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection"

EA's eagerly awaited revival of Skate will necessitate a continuous internet connection, as confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. The team provided a straightforward "No" when asked if the game could be played offline, explaining: "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving. You’ll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities."

This "always on" requirement means that players will not have the option to play offline, even if they choose to avoid multiplayer modes or prefer solo gameplay. Full Circle emphasized that maintaining an online connection is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world; the game will always require a live connection." They noted that this should come as no surprise to those who have participated in their playtests.

The team launched an Always-On Playtest in September 2024 to assess the game within a continuously live environment, with servers operating non-stop.

Skate is slated for an early access release in 2025, though a precise date remains unannounced. First announced during EA Play back in 2020, the game was described as being in its "very early" stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community with 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, ensuring players have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." The developer acknowledged that using real money in a playtest setting is unusual but necessary to "properly assess and adjust the system before launch." They also 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, and that fluctuations in prices or other aspects during the playtest are to be expected.