Skate reboot will require an online connection at all times, EA confirms
EA has confirmed that its upcoming Skate reboot will require an online connection to play, with no offline mode available, as it prepares to launch in early access later this year.
The details:
In the first entry of "The Grind" blog, developer Full Circle reaffirmed that Skate will be available in early access in 2025, but no specific date has been announced. “We have an ambitious vision for Skate – an ever-growing, ever-evolving skateboarding sandbox that expands over time with the feedback of the players living in San Vansterdam,” the studio wrote. “Our Early Access launch will only be Day One of that experience, a starting point from which new features, improvements, and content will be added over time.”
However, in a Q&A, the studio confirmed that the game will not have an offline mode and that players must stay connected to its servers in order to play. It claims that the decision to force players to play online is due to the game being structured as a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox" that is constantly "evolving" with new updates. "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," Full Circle explained. “In order to deliver on our vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection. That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest.”
Some fans have criticized the decision, claiming it may be partially related to Skate's monetization strategy. Given that the game will be free-to-play, EA has confirmed that it will include microtransactions in the form of an in-game currency called "San Van Bucks," which can be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store. The currency was first introduced in a closed alpha playtest last month, but those who choose to make any item purchases will have their San Van Bucks refunded at launch.
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