Summary
EA’s upcomingSkatereboot has added microtransactions to its ongoing closed alpha test. It has already been confirmed that the newSkategame will be free to play, although the decision to add microtransactions during its early testing may cause some controversy.
The last game in theSkateseries 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, withplaytests forSkatehappening as early as 2022. Fans have known what to expect fromSkatefor a while now, although the wait continues for its early access release.
As reported byInsider 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.“Skatehas 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 theongoingSkateplaytests, 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,Skateis expected to launch in early access this year. This will allow more fans to test and shape the future of the nextSkategame, which is an exciting prospect. It could be an excellent year for skateboarding games in general, with the confirmed release ofTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4coming in July. It’s good to see such a fun genre make a comeback after very few titles in recent years.
