A’s upcomingSkatereboot may not have a release date yet, but it already has microtransactions. Currently in closed alpha via theSkateInsider program,Skateis a total revamp of EA’sclassic skateboarding video game franchise. Unlike previous games in the series, though, theSkatereboot will be an MMO - players will be able to join massive servers full of their fellow skaters, and show off their tricks online in an open world full of half-pipes, ramps, and rails.Skateis currently in a closed alphatest; no release date has been announced.
However, even at this early stage,players already have the option to purchase cosmetic items with real money inSkate, according to a report fromInsider Gaming.The new microtransactions were added as part of a recent update toSkate’s closed alpha, promising “epic” and “exciting” changes to gameplay. Although the game is free-to-play (and will remain so at launch), players can now purchase a virtual currency called San Van Bucks.
Skate’s Microtransactions, Explained
How San Van Bucks Work
If you have access to theSkateclosed alpha,you’re able to now exchange real money for a virtual currencycalled San Van Bucks. The exact exchange rate isn’t clear from early reporting. You can thenspend San Van Bucks on a variety of different cosmetic itemsto customize your in-game character: things like clothes, sneakers, boards, et cetera.
It’s clear that this is part of a wider effort by EA to test out the many features of itsSkatereboot.Devs will be collecting player feedback on the microtransactions and virtual store systems, hoping to ensure a “positive experience when purchasing items from the skate store” for players during both the alpha tests and the early access launch.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Has Me Excited That My Favorite Game In The Franchise Could Be Next
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has officially been announced, and I am hoping this trend of remakes will continue with my favorite game in the series.
However, EA has warned players thattheir progress may be resetat any time during the closed alpha launch, and will be reset fully upon early access release. However, that doesn’t mean anything purchased with San Van Bucks will disappear into the ether: purchases will be fully refunded in the form of more virtual currency, which can then be spent again on even more cosmetic items. However, players must ensure they use the same EA account they’re using for the alpha to log in once early access begins.
Skate Has Already Made A Mistake
Another EA Game With Microtransactions
Introducing microtransactions before even releasing in early access feels like a bad move forSkate. Microtransactions are commonly viewed as anti-consumer - a large subset of players would rather pay a one-time fee to access the entirety of a game instead of being nickel-and-dimed for every piece of gear they want to buy. With games likeTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4coming soon, too,Skatehas a lot of competition to live up to.
EA games - especially sports games - are notorious for their rampant microtransactions. Players can purchase things like FC Points inEA Sports FC, spending them on a virtual currency called FC Points, which can then be converted into Packs (i.e., lootboxes) containing new player cards, cosmetics, and more. EA has frequently been criticized for these practices, but apparently, someone’s still buying them: in the last quarter of 2023, according toGeoff Keighleyon X (formerly Twitter),73% of EA’s revenue came from microtransactions.
By comparison,Skate’s microtransactions don’t sound too terrible: they’re cosmetic only, and the game itself is free-to-play, so there’s little likelihood of a pay-to-win structure here. Still, it’s an unwanted continuation of a frustrating industry trend, and one that’s been closely associated with EA in recent years. While it won’t totally kill interest in the game, introducing microtransactions this early is definitely a misstep forSkate.
