Every so often, the gaming community has a palpable impact on games in development, sometimes willing something into its very existence. This was the case for a new Skate game, where EA was flooded at nearly every event asking for Skate 4 (although the game has not been officially titled as such, although it is being called “skate.” on the page). Many Skate memes helped will it into existence, and when EA finally announced it, fans the world over were ecstatic.
It would seem that the developer has been forthcoming as possible, showing several elements that were in the works on the game since its announcement. The developer makes it very clear that it is “still working” on the game, and it’s likely some ways out. However, after weeks of rumors, publisher EA has announced the new Skate playtest.
Alongside this announcement came a behind-the-scenes video showcasing “pre-pre-pre-Alpha gameplay,” where tricks, flips, environments, and other still-in-development designs were shown off. It even showed players moving down some monkey bars, with the video slowly transitioning to some more launch-level graphics and skating features for Skate 4. Of course, this is still early and fans can expect some changes and refinements ahead of launch.
Of course, this small Skate showcase was to encourage the aforementioned playtests. Players are able to sign up through the link to become “skate. Insiders.” These playtests will be closed to the public, with folks being picked to participate. Those who are picked will not be able to share anything they see during the playtest, obviously. It’s uncertain how many playtesters Skate is looking into, but it does say that EA will add more over time.
As Skate is being developed, these insiders will be able to play early versions of the game and provide feedback, hopefully shaping the game up into something made for and by players too. After all, modernizing it, introducing new gameplay concepts (the last Skate game was released in 2010), and yet keeping all the things fans loved that led to its demand will be a tightrope walk. Whether a fan signs up or not, this video and progression on its development is promising. As more and more of the new Skate game is completed and it nears the final stages of development eventually, this openness and communication will certainly be appreciated.
A new Skate game is in development.