EA's much-anticipated revival of the beloved Skate franchise will necessitate an "always on" internet connection. This was confirmed in an updated FAQ section on the official blog by the developer, Full Circle. When asked if the game could be played offline, the team provided a straightforward "No," explaining that the game is designed to be a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox." This means the game world will continuously evolve, featuring both large-scale changes to the city and smaller live events and in-game activities.
The requirement for an "always on" connection means that players won't be able to enjoy Skate offline, even if they prefer solitary gameplay. Full Circle emphasized that this online-only approach is essential to realize their vision of a dynamic skateboarding world. They noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest," referencing their ongoing engagement with the community through testing phases.
The "Always-On Playtest" began in September 2024, marking a new phase where the game is tested in a continuous live environment with servers operating 24/7. Skate's early access launch 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 the very early stages of development. Since that announcement, Full Circle has kept the community engaged with closed community playtests of early builds and, more recently, introduced microtransactions.
Players can now use real money to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can be used to acquire cosmetic items within the game. Full Circle aims to refine Skate's microtransaction system during this playtest phase, ensuring players have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." The developer acknowledged the unusual nature of using real money in a playtest but stressed its importance for assessing and fine-tuning the system before the official launch. They added, "If you see prices or other things changing over time, please understand that this is normal. And of course, you will receive the amount you spent during playtesting in San Van Bucks (SVB) when we reset for Early Access launch."
