EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will require players to maintain an "always on" internet connection. This was confirmed in an updated FAQ on the official blog by developer Full Circle, who provided a straightforward "No" when asked if the game could be played offline. They elaborated, stating, "The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving. You’ll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities."

The necessity for an "always on" connection means that even players who prefer solo sessions or avoid multiplayer modes will need to stay connected to the internet. Full Circle emphasized that this requirement is essential "to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection." They noted that this should not come as a surprise to those who have participated in their playtests.

Skate is slated for an early access launch in 2025, though a specific date has yet to be announced. The project was first unveiled during EA Play way back in 2020, described then as being in its "very early" stages of development. Since that announcement, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and, more recently, introduced microtransactions.

Players can now use real-world money to purchase a virtual currency known as San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle is keen on ensuring a smooth experience with these transactions, as they stated their desire for players to have a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store."

In today's blog update, the team acknowledged that using real money during a playtest is unconventional but necessary to "properly assess and adjust the system before launch." They also reassured players that any fluctuations in prices or other changes are part of the testing process. Moreover, participants will receive the equivalent amount they spent during the playtest in San Van Bucks (SVB) when the game resets for its Early Access launch.