Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's eagerly awaited revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection. In an updated FAQ on the official blog, developer Full Circle provided a clear response: "No," explaining that "the game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." Players can expect to see significant changes to the city over time, as well as smaller updates such as live events and other in-game activities.

The requirement for an "always on" connection means that the game cannot be played offline, even if players choose to avoid multiplayer modes or prefer solo play. Full Circle emphasized that this is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world," ensuring that the game will always require an active internet connection.

For those who have participated in the playtests, this news may not come as a surprise. In September 2024, Full Circle initiated its Always-On Playtest, designed to evaluate the game in a continuously running live environment with servers operational 24/7.

Skate’s early access launch is scheduled for 2025, though a specific date has yet to be confirmed. Initially announced at EA Play way back in 2020, the game was described as being in its "very early" stages of development. Since then, Full Circle has kept the community engaged with closed community playtests of early builds and, most recently, introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real-world money to purchase a virtual currency known as San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to test Skate’s microtransaction system to ensure a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." The team acknowledged that spending real money during a playtest is unconventional but believes it's necessary to fine-tune the system before the official launch. They also reassured players that any money spent during the playtest will be refunded in San Van Bucks (SVB) when the game resets for the Early Access launch.