EA is making waves this year with the return of its long-beloved Skate series. It’s been a whole 15 years since gamers first dove into Skate 3, and the anticipation for EA’s latest chapter, creatively titled skate., is sky-high. While there’s still no set release date, eager fans have been able to get a taste of what’s to come through playtests ahead of its early access debut.
In the realm of virtual skateboarding, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater has long been considered a standout. However, the Skate series upped the ante with its unique innovations, providing gamers with an experience that truly stood out. Though details about the new Skate game have been trickling in, they suggest a thrilling ride ahead, potentially sparking a revival for extreme sports games that many fans have been longing for.
Back in the late 90s and early 2000s, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater had a significant role in popularizing extreme sports games. Alongside titles like 1080 Snowboarding and Thrasher: Skate and Destroy, it helped cement the genre’s popularity. Despite the once vibrant market for games based on activities like skateboarding, snowboarding, and surfing, interest has waned over the years.
Interestingly, EA is shaking things up by making the upcoming Skate installment free-to-play. This bold move could breathe new life into the genre, potentially reviving older franchises while encouraging the creation of new ones. Mainstream sports games continue to thrive, but this could be the start of a comeback for those more adrenaline-fueled, extreme sports experiences.
Evidence of a renaissance in this niche is building, especially with Tony Hawk’s recent announcements about a secret project with Activision. While the details remain hush-hush, and with Skate’s early access just around the corner, it feels like the genre might be inching its way back into the spotlight. It’s an exciting time for skaters and fans of the extreme sports wave from decades past.
Fans of extreme sports might recall popular titles from the 2000s like Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer, Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX, and MX vs. ATV. Whether or not these classics make a comeback, they certainly paved the way for inspired new series to emerge. Though it’s a stretch to think that extreme sports will reclaim their early 2000s dominance, there’s a certain nostalgic allure that could draw in both old fans and new audiences. Skating and extreme sports were once a cornerstone of early 21st-century gaming culture, a trend that could very well come around again as gaming continues to evolve.
As gamers wait for Skate to be released on platforms like PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, the excitement is palpable. The Skate series is carving a path for others to follow, exploring new gameplay dynamics and reviving the thrill this genre once brought to so many. With Skate paving the way for a possible revival of the genre, it’s thrilling to consider what might come next.
