Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will require an "always on" internet connection. In an updated FAQ on the official blog, developer Full Circle provided a clear statement: "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This means players will experience both large-scale changes to the city over time and smaller, dynamic elements like live events and other in-game activities.

An "always on" requirement means that Skate cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer solo play. Full Circle emphasized that this connectivity is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world," ensuring that the game remains constantly connected to the internet.

This approach aligns with the ongoing Always-On Playtest that began in September 2024, designed to test the game in a permanent live environment with servers running around the clock. Full Circle noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest."

Skate's early access launch is slated for 2025, though an exact date remains unconfirmed. The project was first announced during EA Play way back in 2020, described then as "very early" in development. Since that announcement, Full Circle has engaged the community with closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.

Players can now spend real-world money on a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, used to purchase cosmetic items. Full Circle is keen to test Skate’s microtransaction system, aiming to ensure players have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." In their latest blog update, the team explained, "We know that using real money during a playtest is a little unusual, but we think it’s the best way to properly assess and adjust the system before launch." They also reassured players that any money spent during playtesting will be converted into San Van Bucks (SVB) upon the reset for the Early Access launch, with prices and other elements subject to change as part of the testing process.