Skate Game Demands Constant Internet Connection

EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will require an "always on" internet connection, as confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle. The team provided a straightforward response: "No," emphasizing that "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 can expect dynamic changes to the city, live events, and other in-game activities that require a constant internet connection to deliver Full Circle's vision of a vibrant skateboarding world.

The "always on" requirement implies that the game cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer solo play. 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 in a permanent live environment, with servers running continuously.

Skate’s early access launch is scheduled for 2025, though a specific date has not yet been confirmed. The project was first announced during EA Play way back in 2020, when it was described as being in the "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 known as San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle aims to test Skate’s microtransaction system, ensuring a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." In the 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 to San Van Bucks (SVB) and credited back to them when the game resets for its Early Access launch. Full Circle noted that price adjustments and changes during the playtest are normal and part of the refinement process.