A popular rival of the Tony Hawk series is said to return with skate-but a controversial decision overshadows the alpha phase.
In 2025 the skate series is supposed to celebrate a comeback: EA wants to bring the popular sports game back of the PS3 era-and invites players to the test run.
However, it is now overshadowed by a message that triggers violent discussions among fans: already EA is now introducing microtransactions in the close alpha – So actual purchases with real money. And that, while there is still no trace of a release date.
The decision is controversial.
Shopping as “positive experience”
How Insider gaming reportsthe developer studio Full Circle announced via Ingame message to introduce microtransactions in the currently running Alpha test. Shortly afterwards, real money purchases were activated.
It should now be possible for Alpha testers to buy the Ingame currency San van Bucks and to buy cosmetic items in the shop. The step is to be justified by wanting to test the purchase system.
As a reason, it says from the manufacturer's side that one wants to make sure that the purchase in the store is a positive experience. The player is happy to receive feedback in order to enable a great early access start, according to the statement.
What happens to the money?
A hook of real money purchases in the unfinished alpha version: All progress in skate is completely reset for the early access launch. In the course of this, all the items purchased are also deleted and the price in the form of San van Bucks is reimbursed in the player.
A debate burns
Contra-Stimmen: Many players react horrified to the decision for microtransactions in a game before the release and criticize EA sharply. Here are some voices from the community:
- “Microtransactions in an alpha are completely crazy, never buys this money laundering machine.” (Lanky-Minimum5063)
- “I am almost surprised that you do not start with the microtransactions and that the actual game only added later.” (CatatonicMan )
Pro vote: But there are other opinions – many users argue that this procedure is neither surprisingly nor completely new. Here are some voices from the community:
- “I don't want to play Advocat here, but didn't Riot pull out the same thing in the valorant beta and nobody joined the eyelash?”Lordmohs)
- »There are many reasons to test something like that: value assessment, popularity of different variants, quality assurance and so on. The fact that they are paid with real money simply delivers more authentic data. «(Zerothian)
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Devplay: Why are microtransactions so successful?
No pay2win
The skate reboot was announced in 2020 and is expected to appear as an early access title for PC and consoles in 2025. The new skate will be free and finance yourself through real money purchases.
The developers emphasize that there will be no Pay2win elements. Lootboxes are also not sold, but are earned by tricks on the skateboard.
