Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection. In an updated FAQ section on their official blog, developer Full Circle provided a straightforward response: "No." They elaborated, "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 significant evolutions, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller updates, including live events and other in-game activities."

Requiring an "always on" connection means that the game cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer solo play or wish to avoid multiplayer modes. Full Circle emphasized that this requirement is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection." They noted, "That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest."

This requirement aligns with their ongoing Always-On Playtest that started in September 2024, designed to test the game in a continuous live environment with servers running 24/7.

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

Players can use real-world money to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can then be used to buy 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." They 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, "If you see prices or other things changing over time, please understand that this is normal. And of course, you will receive the amount you spent during playtesting in San Van Bucks (SVB) when we reset for Early Access launch."