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Though they were once ubiquitous, skateboarding games like those of the original Skate trilogy seem to have been forgotten by time. Of course, there have been indie projects like Session Skate Sim and Skater XL, but the era of big-budget, real-skater-sponsored, over-the-top virtual skating experiences has languished in antiquity, especially as Skate and Tony Hawk publishers EA and Activision have set their sights on different targets.
But that could be changing very soon, as a new Skate game is on the horizon, and the genre seems to be getting renewed interest from the gaming populace. The aforementioned Session and Skater XL helped remind both audiences and gaming companies of the power of skating games, particularly those leaning into complex mechanics rather than gimmicks or peripherals, and the remakes of the first two Tony Hawk Pro Skater games were a nice shot in the arm as well. As always, it’s hard to say what the future holds, but there’s reason for skateboarding fans to be hopeful moving into 2025.
Skate and Tony Hawk Could Make 2025 Skateboarding’s Year
A Free-to-Play Skate Game Is On the Way
After a few years of solid marketing, Skate 4 is finally getting released next year, albeit in early access. This new Skate game, stylized as skate., has raised a few eyebrows due to its free-to-play status, with skeptics arguing that this shift could result in a tainting of what makes Skate so special. While it’s always good to be wary of predatory pricing schemes like microtransactions and lootboxes, comments from Skate 4‘s developers suggest that these facets won’t be too egregious, though of course only time will tell.
What will be important about the upcoming Skate game is its attention to detail as it pertains to mechanics. The older Skate games succeeded with strong physics and realism, and if Skate 4 nails these elements, then it could be a wonderful and fitting return to form for the franchise. It will certainly be nice to have another proper Skate game on the market, even if its live-service elements change how players interface with it.
A New Tony Hawk Game Could Be Forthcoming
Speaking on the Last Meals show, Tony Hawk recently teased a new game with Activision, implying that the once-iconic Pro Skater series could be making a comeback at some point in the near future. Hawk was tight-lipped about this upcoming project, simply stating that he was “talking with Activision” about a new game, so it very well could be a while before audiences learn more about it.
At the same time, the 25th anniversary of the first Pro Skater game is coming up, which could align with an official reveal. Recent moves from Activision, mainly the advertising of the anniversary on social media channels, have led some to speculate about a new project being teased, and while this could be another full entry in the series, it could also be a remake of Pro Skater 3 and 4, chasing the 2020 remake of their two predecessors. Alternatively, and perhaps more notably, Activision could be pushing ahead with remakes of the Tony Hawk Underground games, which would be exciting for obvious reasons. The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake was a hit with fans, so both of these options seem plausible.
However one interprets Tony Hawk’s comments, it seems clear that Activision isn’t done with skateboarding games just yet. The original Tony Hawk games were in rampant competition with the Skate series, so it would be fitting to reignite the rivalry around the time of Skate 4‘s early access release, not letting EA steal the spotlight. If this were to happen, then skateboarding fans could be eating good in 2025 and beyond.
