Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's much-anticipated revival of Skate will necessitate a continuous internet connection, as outlined in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. They provided a straightforward response: "No," 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 witness both significant developments, such as city changes over time, and smaller updates, like live events and other in-game activities."

Requiring an "always on" connection means that Skate cannot be played offline, even for those who might prefer solitary gameplay. Full Circle emphasized that an internet connection is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world," hence the game will perpetually require a live connection.

The developer noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest," referencing the Always-On Playtest that began in September 2024. This phase aims to test the game within a continuous live environment, with servers operational 24/7.

Although Skate is slated for an early access launch in 2025, an exact date has yet to be confirmed. First announced during EA Play way back in 2020, the game was described as being in the "very early" stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds. Additionally, last month, they introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real 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, stating their desire for players to have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store."

The team acknowledged the unusual nature of using real money during a playtest but justified it as "the best way to properly assess and adjust the system before launch." They also assured players that any price changes observed are part of the testing process. Furthermore, players will receive the equivalent amount spent in San Van Bucks (SVB) when the game resets for its Early Access launch.