Summary
- Skate will be free-to-play in a city setting called San Vansterdam, Alpha Playtest ongoing.
- Mid-Alpha microtransactions added for testing cosmetic items only in the skate store.
- Players warned that EA may reset account progress before Early Access launch, with San Van Bucks refunded.
A select number of players have had access to Skate’s Alpha Playtest for a while now, but given how long it’s been active, very few details have come out about the title that is scheduled for release at some point this year.
One thing that is certain, though, is that the latest entry into the beloved skating franchise will be going free-to-play and be set across a vast city called San Vansterdam.
Related
While details have been few and far between, one of the Playtest’s recent changes has come out, and in typical EA fashion, although it didn’t launch with them, microtransactions have been added mid-alpha.
EA’s Skate Gets Mid-Alpha Microtransactions
First reported by Insider Gaming, players in Skate’s latest Alpha were recently greeted with the following message:
“To ensure we achieve these goals at Early Access, we have enabled the option to purchase and use virtual currency (San Van Bucks) in our ongoing Closed Alpha playtest. Your feedback will be greatly appreciated in providing a great experience at Early Access launch.”
While it might seem insidious, it seems like EA is genuinely just testing the functionality, with the message adding that the company wants players to have a “positive experience when purchasing items from the skate store.”
A comment on Reddit from a player who is reportedly in the Alpha has suggested that all microtransactions are purely cosmetic, and that there are no stat boosts or anything similar.
According to Insider Gaming, the message warns players that EA could reset account progress at any time, and it will be fully reset ahead of the game’s Early Access launch. Players who have spent money on San Van Bucks in the Alpha will, therefore, have them refunded at the start of Early Access, provided they use the same EA account across the Playtests and Early Access.
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