Summary
- EA's new Skate game will be free-to-play but has added microtransactions to its closed alpha test.
- The decision to include microtransactions in the early testing stage may spark controversy among players.
- Playtesters of Skate will see account resets but purchases made with San Van Bucks will revert back in the early access release.
EA's upcoming Skate reboot has added microtransactions to its ongoing closed alpha test. It has already been confirmed that the new Skate game will be free to play, although the decision to add microtransactions during its early testing may cause some controversy.
The last game in the Skate series was released back in 2010, meaning gamers have faced a long wait for a new iteration. It was a staple skateboarding franchise throughout the seventh generation of consoles, which meant plenty of excitement when the reboot was confirmed in 2020. Information about the game has slowly arrived over the years, with playtests for Skate happening as early as 2022. Fans have known what to expect from Skate for a while now, although the wait continues for its early access release.
The Case For a Skate Trilogy Rerelease Before Skate 4
With EA moving to revive the Skate franchise later this year, the original hardware-locked trilogy could use a bit of attention.
As reported by Insider Gaming, Skate's playtesters have received an update message confirming that a purchasable microtransaction currency named San Van Bucks has been added to the closed alpha test. For launch, developer Full Circle wants players to have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the skate store," stating, "To ensure we achieve these goals at Early Access we have enabled the option to purchase and use virtual currency (San Van Bucks) in our ongoing Closed Alpha playtest. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated in providing a great experience at Early Access launch." Skate has long been confirmed to be a free-to-play live-service game, but the decision to add microtransactions at this stage of development could draw ire from players.
Skate Adds Microtransactions to Closed Alpha
The same report also mentions that accounts might be reset at times as a result of the ongoing Skate playtests, with a full reset arriving before the early access release. Players who purchase San Van Bucks during playtesting don't need to worry about this. Any purchases made using San Van Bucks in-game will revert back to the virtual currency at the start of early access, ensuring no progress is lost as long as players use the same EA account throughout.
After years in development, Skate is expected to launch in early access this year. This will allow more fans to test and shape the future of the next Skate game, which is an exciting prospect. It could be an excellent year for skateboarding games in general, with the confirmed release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 coming in July. It's good to see such a fun genre make a comeback after very few titles in recent years.
- Released
- September 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Crude Humor, Lyrics, Mild Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Full Circle
- Publisher(s)
- EA
- Engine
- Frostbite
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sports, MMO, Open-World
