Skate Game Demands Constant Online Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will require players to maintain an "always on" internet connection. This was confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle, who provided a straightforward "No" when asked if the game could be played offline. They elaborated, "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."

The "always on" requirement means that even players who prefer solo sessions or avoid multiplayer modes will need to stay connected to the internet. Full Circle emphasized that this is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection." They noted that this shouldn't come as a surprise to those who have participated in their playtests.

In September 2024, Full Circle initiated the Always-On Playtest, a new phase designed to test the game in a continuous live environment with servers running 24/7. Skate’s early access is slated for 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. The project was first unveiled during EA Play way back in 2020, described then as being in its "very early" stages. Since that announcement, Full Circle has engaged the community with closed community playtests of early builds and, more recently, introduced microtransactions.

Players can now use real-world money to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to refine Skate’s microtransaction system during these tests, ensuring a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." They acknowledged that using real money in a playtest is unconventional 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, with potential price adjustments being part of the testing process.