The long-awaited Skate revival is here… but at what cost?
Yes, they did it again! Before the game even launched, EA has already added microtransactions to the long-awaited Skate revival. In the latest Closed Alpha update, players can now spend real money on in-game currency to buy cosmetic items. The developers claim this is just a test, but it’s already stirring debate. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest Skate news.
Skate Fans Have Waited for Years
It’s been a long road for Skate fans. EA first announced the game in 2020, calling it an early work in progress. Since then, players have been eagerly awaiting updates, but development has taken its time. Now, with a planned release in 2025, the wait is almost over – but not without controversy.
The latest Closed Alpha introduced microtransactions before the game even hit Early Access. Players can now buy in-game currency, San Van Bucks, to purchase cosmetic items. EA insists this is just a test, ensuring a smooth experience at launch. However, some fans worry this signals a pay-heavy future for the long-awaited free-to-play title.
A Free Ride With A Price?
Skate will be completely free when it launches on PC and consoles. But like many modern games, EA is banking on microtransactions to keep it running. While the purchases are currently limited to cosmetics, players remain skeptical. After all, history has shown that microtransactions can quickly spiral out of control. On the bright side, any purchased items will carry over to Early Access, as long as players use the same EA account.
Look, Skate is one of the best games ever, and yes, I say Skate > Tony Hawk's Pro Skater – sorry, Mr. Hawk. And we can be blessed that it exists, is free, and yes, ads or microtransactions are just logical. But fully functional microtransactions? Are you kidding me? The money part is finished before the rest of the game, and why does an alpha need microtransactions?
The River of Broken Games
This feels like the Scorpion and the Frog fable, where EA says, "Hey, look! Across the river – Skate, free for all! Just climb onto my back, and I’ll carry you safely to the other side." and we say, "Nah, you just want my money – drain me dry, leave me with nothing for other games. And once my pockets are empty, why would you ever improve it? You’ve already taken everything." They swear they wouldn’t dare, for such treachery would seal the fate of the both of us. But halfway across, a dreadful weightlessness creeps into our hands – our wallet feels lighter. And then we realize, with a sinking heart, that they have stolen every last coin.
With a voice torn between fury and despair, we cry out, "How could you?! You’ve cursed us both – now your stock, like our trust, will sink into the depths, never to rise again!", We both plunge into the abyss of a broken, forsaken Skate – its world crumbling around us, riddled with glitches, physics warping in absurdity, unfinished and unredeemed. And with its final, shuddering breath, EA croaks – its voice hollow, drained of all pretense: "I am sorry, but I couldn't help it. It’s in my nature."
Are you Team Skate or Team Tony Hawk's Pro Skater? Are you excited for the new Skate despite the microtransactions? Tell us in the comments!