EA's highly anticipated revival of Skate will necessitate an "always on" internet connection, as confirmed by developer Full Circle in an updated FAQ on their official blog. They provided a straightforward response: "No," emphasizing that the game is envisioned as a "living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving." This design choice allows for dynamic changes to the game's city and the inclusion of live events and other in-game activities.

The "always on" requirement implies that the game cannot be played offline, even for those who prefer single-player modes. Full Circle insists that this constant internet connection is essential to realize their vision of an interconnected skateboarding world.

This should come as no surprise to those who participated in the playtests, as Full Circle initiated an Always-On Playtest in September 2024. This phase aims to evaluate the game within a continuously running live environment, with servers operating 24/7.

Although Skate's early access is slated for 2025, a specific launch date remains unconfirmed. The project, which was first unveiled during EA Play in 2020, was described as being in its very early stages at that time. Since then, Full Circle has engaged the community through closed community playtests of early builds and recently introduced microtransactions.

Players can use real-world currency to purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which can then be used to acquire cosmetic items. Full Circle is keen on testing Skate's microtransaction system to ensure a "positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store." They acknowledged the unusual nature of using real money during playtests but believe it's crucial for fine-tuning the system before the official launch. They also reassured players that any money spent during playtesting will be converted into San Van Bucks (SVB) upon the reset for the Early Access launch, with potential adjustments to prices and other elements being part of the ongoing testing process.