Skate Game to Mandate Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection, as confirmed by developer Full Circle in an updated FAQ on their official blog. The studio provided a straightforward response to the question about offline play, stating: "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 ongoing changes to the city, live events, and other in-game activities, all of which contribute to the dynamic world Full Circle envisions.

The requirement for a constant internet connection might not come as a surprise to those who have participated in the playtests. Full Circle 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 operating 24/7.

Skate is slated for an early access release in 2025, though an exact date remains unconfirmed. Initially announced during EA Play way back in 2020, the game was described as being in its very early stages. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.

Players can now use real-world currency to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks (SVB), which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle is keen on ensuring a smooth microtransaction system, stating, "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 the playtest will be converted to SVB and credited back when the game resets for the Early Access launch. Full Circle added, "If you see prices or other things changing over time, please understand that this is normal," indicating ongoing adjustments to the in-game economy.