If you were hoping to chill in Skate solo without an internet connection, bad news, EA has confirmed the next Skate game is strictly always-online. In their dev update The Grind: Vol 1, the team said the “simple answer” to offline mode is “no.” Why? Because they’re building what they call a “massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox” - aka, a shared world that constantly updates with live events, city changes, and who-knows-what from San Vansterdam.
It’s a bold move that’s got the community split. Some are hyped for the ever-evolving online vibe, but others just want to mess around on a rail without needing Wi-Fi. Still, EA's sticking to their vision, and early access is locked in for 2025. They’ve made it clear this version won’t be “final” - think of it more like the first drop of a long-term ride.
And yeah, microtransactions showed up in the playtest. EA says it’s just for testing the system, not cash grabs. Any real money you drop now gets refunded as SVB (San Van Bucks) later. So no, it's not pay-to-win, but the economy's still in flux.
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