With the announcement of a follow-up to Skate 3 being put into development, fans can finally rejoice as the series is looking to make a return.
As with any game, new or old, big or small, loved or hated, there are risks involved as well as benefits. Some risks point to EA possibly just letting the Skate franchise go while a fair number of benefits point to it going through with the follow-up. It does ultimately depend on how EA handles things, and while there’s little reason for the company to cut its losses on the follow-up now that it was announced to such a glowing response from fans, there are still a few things to consider down the road.
10 Should Happen: Because It Could Be Another Possible Saving Grace For EA
It’s safe to say that EA isn’t exactly on the best terms with the gaming community. The actual quality of their games has been hit and miss over the last decade. The excessive amounts of monetization don’t help either. Throughout these rough patches, EA has had a few bright moments like Apex Legends, Jedi: Fallen Order, and even Battlefront II’s multiplayer made a strong comeback.
Skate 4 could be another chance to build some goodwill between EA and players. The game would really have to knock things out of the park to do it, but it’s a chance nonetheless.
9 Should Happen: Because There’s Nothing Else Quite Like It
Few games can really claim they are one-of-a-kind. There’s always going to be shooters, RPGs, and sports games. There are even indie developers out there looking to recreate the magic that is Skate. Even so, there still really is no other game out there quite like Skate, as no other triple-A game really plays like it. No other big-budget sports title out there accurately represents the sport it’s trying to portray like Skate. It is truly a unique beast.
There’s a reason why people want Skate 4 so badly. The series represents a level of creativity that has yet to be matched in triple-A gaming to this day. That is something special.
8 Should Happen: Because It Still Has Some Room To Grow
For how good Skate 3 was, it still had some room for improvement. There could’ve been more reliable ways to do stalls and rock’n’rolls, which would be great ways to get in and out transitions quickly and comfortably. Pressure flips still weren’t a thing yet, tool-tips could’ve been better implemented at times, and the game overall could still do with offering players greater control here and there.
There’s also Skate 3’s rather wonky physics engine that, while funny at times, could get in the way of gameplay as well. It also wouldn’t hurt to add a system that tells players how difficult certain challenges might be as some challenges in Skate 3 were disproportionately difficult to others with no way to know before starting them.
7 Should Happen: Because THPS Is Still Around
After the success of the Tony Hawk franchise, Activision attempted to monopolize every extreme sport they could into a branded video game. This didn’t work out too well for them, which is why it’s pretty amazing that players are still getting Tony Hawk games today. The series has been through a lot of ups and downs. It’s only right that the Skate series has a chance to cement that kind of longevity as well.
The fact that THPS 1+2 sold so well shortly after its release is reason enough to believe that skateboarding still has a strong demand in video games. With Tony Hawk being the only competition in that sphere, the Skate series should be able to make a comeback with little issues.
6 Should Happen: Because Why Not?
The Skate series is pretty innovative. Its creative gameplay alone is reason enough for it to get another entry among all of the bog-standard and safe shooter games that fill the market.
People also seem to be getting very tired of the copy-and-paste nature of EA’s other sports titles. With very little innovation between releases in those franchises, a new Skate game would be a nice breath of fresh air. EA really just needs to start actually trying with their products again. Skate 4 seems like a good place to start.
5 Should Move On: Because Other Games Are Picking Up The Mantle
In the very long absence of the Skate games, the scene has seen a couple of indie devs attempt to pick up where EA Black Box left off at. Games like Session and Skater XL are now trying to bring simulated skateboarding to players.
These games are still very early in their life cycles, and it’s clear that they don’t have the same amount of resources that the Skate games had behind them. Regardless, all people really want is a competent skateboard simulation game. Both games seem to be giving people exactly that.
4 Should Move On: Because It Could Tarnish The Legacy
It’s EA. That’s all that really needs to be said right now. As much as there is a chance for redemption in Skate 4, EA’s reputation always gives players cause to pause these days. The last thing the Skate series needs is a major blemish on its track record due to obsessive monetization or EA meddling with things it doesn’t need to meddle with.
Skate 3 already had creeping signs of EA monetization. Luckily, those signs were still early at the time. Even so, given EA’s track record, it could easily turn what should be a great game into a dumpster fire that single-handedly ruins the series’ legacy.
3 Should Move On: Because EA Has Bigger Problems
EA certainly has its plate full when it comes to its products. The release of Madden 21 is just one of the latest issues EA has been dealing with.
Needless to say, it wouldn’t be a horrible move for EA to try and correct these problems by focusing on the products it already has on the market. It looks like that’s what could be happening with Anthem. Of course, all of this will take a lot of resources. Resources that won’t be going to Skate 4. As unfair as that might sound, people who already paid for games like Anthem and Madden 21 deserve better as well.
2 Should Move On: Because There’s Nothing Wrong With Having A Good Run
At the end of the day, the decision to continue the Skate series or not comes down to the people who own the IP. As much as people enjoy seeing the franchises they love pump new content constantly, the owners should always be able to say when they want to stop.
The first three Skate games are really good. While the way the franchise was put on hold was rather abrupt, very few IPs could ever hope to spawn three mainline games. That’s something to be respected and appreciated in its own right.
1 Should Move On: Because EA Could Sell The IP
It’s been a decade since Skate 3 released. That’s a pretty long time for people to wait for another entry in a franchise. EA has shown in recent years that the series is not a priority.
If that’s going to continue to be the case, then the publisher could just sell the IP. It wouldn’t be ideal, but EA was a little different back then when the Skate games were initially releasing. Now, a lot of people will probably be hesitant to pay for an EA product, even if the previous games were great. It could help both parties involved if Skate were to be sold to another company.
NEXT: 10 Games To Play If You Like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
