TheSkateseries has been wildly popular for some time now, but it has been dormant up until recently. Due to leaks and rumors, fans knew that July was going to hold some new information about the nextSkategame, which was previously announced, but no one was expecting EA to announce the latest entry in the series to be coming out as a free-to-play live service game. The news was a bit shocking at first, but making such a drastic change fits into the developer’s attempt to revamp the series, as the newest game is notSkate 4but simplySkate.
Live service games are intended to keep players engaged for as long as possible by continuously adding more to the game. Of course, live service games come with their pros and cons, yetSkatehas some serious potential to overcome the obstacles that go along with its new features and continuetheSkatelegacy.
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How Live Service and Free-to-Play Features Will Benefit Skate
The main draw to live service games is their ability to remain relevant and interesting even years after the release. Most live service titles are multiplayer games, and rightly so because multiplayer games often have to adapt to new, popular features and release new content in order to stay relevant. A perfect example ofa live service game isFortnite, which was released five years ago but still remains one of the most popular games in the world. ThoughSkateis not nearly as multiplayer-focused as other live service games, much of its content and features could benefit from receiving regular updates.
Live service implies thatSkateshould regularly feature new content updatesthat could include anything from new clothing, boards, or gear to entirely new skate parks. Since these are the core unlockables in previous games, it makes perfect sense for EA to want to update the content to remain relevant and possibly even allow player input to influence what content is added. As shown in the recently releasedSkatealpha trailer, the developer is making it a point to listen to the players and add features fans want to see in the game.
The free-to-play feature almost always comes side by side with live service games because it makes sense for games of this ilk to be released for free, but charge players for particular services or content. The main benefit tied to this type of marketing is that it allows players to purchase content or the ability to unlock content (through a season pass or similar progression system) only if they choose to purchase it, but games often also allow for a free progression system that still contains new and updated unlockables.Past iterations ofSkatehave based their progression system on the player gaining popularity within the skateboarding world and their progression allowed them to purchase new gear. So releasing the newestSkategame as a free-to-play live service game is essentially expanding the game’s original progression system to a larger scale that would include updated content.
Possible Negative Side Effects of a Live Service Skate
Live service and free-to-play games do have their benefits, but there are also a few downsides to providing any game for free. The most glaring qualm fans have with the concept is the possibility of players being able to pay-to-win or essentially spend money to purchase in-game items that may give them an unfair advantage. Fortunately,Skateis not nearly as competitive or reliant on particular pieces of gearor equipment when compared to other live service games, but the idea of players being able to unlock particular items with money instead of skill tends to diminish the entire reward system. EA has said that it does not intend to implement features like these, but players have heard similar from other games before, including the notoriousDiablo Immortal.This is not to doubt EA, but just a statement of what has happened with other free-to-play live service titles.
SinceSkateputs such an emphasis on creativity and customization, much of the unlockable content will likely be locked behind a progression system that players will have to pay for in order to participate, at least in the best cosmetic rewards. Though it makes sense from a business perspective for free-to-play games to have microtransactions, blocking off some of the player’s creative options could lead to frustration and undermine the entire customization process. It is unclear exactlyhowSkatewill proceed with being a free-to-playlive service game, but it will have to create a good balance of new content and reasonable pricing and distribution if the game wants to succeed in its new direction.
