Screenshot: EA / Kotaku
Skateboarding is still a bit of an enigma, though it filters, like, every five minutes. Today, during a 20-minute live broadcast, the EA publisher revealed a lot of information, on purpose, in this case, about the upcoming entry of its long-running skating series, including a surprise pivot to a free model. Here’s everything you need to know.
It will not be called Skate 4 or Sk4te
As the fourth entry in the series, after Skate 3 in 2010, you might think that the title of the next Skate game would come with some sort of modifier. Last week, I wrote that “the next skate game … better to be titled Sk4te or both my teammate Jeremy Winslow and I will cry real tears.” Well, someone breaks the handkerchiefs! The next Skate game is simply called: Get Ready, Skate. RIP my seventh best joke of 2022.
The stage is called San Vansterdam
Skate and Skate 2 took place in the fictional city of San Vanelona, inspired by California. Skate 3 took place in the fictional California-inspired city of Port Carverton. When it launches [date TBD], Skateboarding will take place in the fictional city of San Vansterdam, inspired by California. It will not take place in “Fun City” (unfortunately also fictional), as indicated by a previously leaked version of an earlier version.
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Screenshot: EA / Kotaku
Yes, Skate will be free
EA’s Full Circle studio, which leads Skate development, did not share a release date. When it comes out, it can be played on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, with mobile versions also in process. (“We’re pretty early on mobile, but we want the controls and everything to feel good,” said Dan McCulloch, CEO of Full Circle.) The game will feature cross-platform play and cross-progression across all platforms and generations of consoles. . And yes, as mentioned, it will be free to play.
But microtransactions are not paid to win
As with any game based on a free game model, Skate will have microtransactions. EA, perhaps the most uniquely associated company with a reputation for alleging microtransactions, said Skate will not be paying to win. When asked if the microtransactions will be purely aesthetic, an EA representative redirected Kotaku to today’s stream.
In the stream, EA did not say whether or not the microtransactions will be purely aesthetic, but shared some details on how they will be. Even if you refuse to spend a penny, you will still have full access to all of San Vansterdam (i.e., parts of the city will not be closed behind a pay wall). And you can’t pay your way to gain a competitive advantage over other players. (Unlike other celebrity-backed skateboarding games, the Skate series has never had stats or lows or anything like that; the win is based solely on your understanding of the movie-based control scheme).
Don’t expect sequels, because Skate will be given live service
Like Halo (and, according to Bloomberg reports, Assassin’s Creed), Skate is another distinctive series from the late 2000s that is becoming a live service model. Instead of numbered sequels, the developers will treat Skate as an iterative game that changes over time. It looks like it will also support some great multiplayer lobbies. Right now, Full Circle is testing lobbies for up to 60 players, creative director Chris “Cuz” Parry, the most perfect name in history for the creative director of a skate game, told GameSpot.
(Arrow added to emphasize.) Screenshot: EA / Kotaku
Session bookmarks! Session bookmarks !!!
In today’s images, if you look closely, you’ll see a button request for a session bookmark. Few features are more basic to playing Skate than the session marker. If you press the directional bearing, you can leave a build point where you are standing. Push the pad up and you’ll be back instantly from anywhere on the map, often without a charge period, if you’re close enough. (This year’s Snowboard Shredders game has been released with a similar feature.) The session marker reproduces the IRL feel you get when you repeatedly skate a place with your friends. I can’t imagine Skate without session markers, so while that may seem minor to you, I’m at the far end of the moon to see that they’re making an official return for the next game.
Skating is a long way off
It’s no secret that game development is usually a tight-lipped process, with details kept secret until the last minute. I have no idea when Skate will come out, hopefully before death from the heat of the universe, but it’s clear it’s very, very soon. (All images shown so far are marked “pre-pre-pre-alpha”). Given the usual secrecy surrounding these things, it’s remarkable to see EA pull back the curtain early in the cycle. And while, of course, it could all be a cynical marketing ploy, I’ll actually choose to be optimistic here and read it as a sign that Full Circle is legitimately concerned about doing well for fans. I guess we’ll be able to see that soon enough, as Full Circle will start opening public game trials in the coming months. You can register on the EA website.