EA Includes Microtransactions in Closed Alpha Skate and Upsets Players: "San Van Bucks" are now on sale

If the expectation was that Skate, the anticipated reboot of the iconic EA skate franchise, would follow the "for the players" style, the new announcement may have frustrated many people. In the midst of the Closed Alpha period, Electronic Arts and the Full Circle studio confirmed the official implementation of microtransactions in the game, even before the title reaches Early Access - and this sparked a heated debate among fans.

According to a statement sent by EA to Closed Alpha players, the game received what they call an "epic gameplay update", along with other "exciting news." However, the highlight this time is San Van Bucks, a virtual currency created so that players can purchase cosmetic items in the game's store.

“To ensure that we have the best possible experience at the Early Access launch, we have activated the option to buy and use virtual currency (San Van Bucks) in our current Closed Alpha playtest”, says the note sent to participants. “Your feedback will be extremely important to ensure that everyone has a positive experience when purchasing items when the game is launched in Early Access.”

That is, even in the testing phase, players can already spend real money on cosmetics - with the promise that, if progress is reset, paid items will be converted back into San Van Bucks at the official Early Access launch, provided the player uses the same EA account.

In addition, the Full Circle studio has already made it clear that all progress data may be erased during the Alpha and will be 100% reset at the end of this phase, which has raised concerns among many players: why charge for content if nothing is definitive?

Skate will be free, but with an embedded store

It is worth remembering that Skate is scheduled for 2025 and will be free-to-play on PC, consoles, and with a planned mobile version. Since the initial announcement, EA has emphasized that the game would be "accessible to everyone," but always leaving room for monetization, especially through cosmetics and season passes, something already very popular in service games.

However, the fact that it includes microtransactions even in the Alpha phase and even before a Beta or official release caught many people by surprise, especially in a franchise that has always been revered for its authenticity and community focus.

“We want to ensure that the shopping experience in the Skate store is positive. That's why we started testing the system now, with your feedback,” justified the Full Circle team.

Community Reaction: Controversy Expected?

Although testing microtransactions in an Alpha is, technically, an experiment to balance prices and offers, many players believe that EA may be “putting the cart before the horse”, prioritizing monetization before ensuring a solid gaming experience.

The situation is reminiscent of other free-to-play games that have undergone similar tests but have generated distrust among the player base - like the controversial launch of Battlefront II, also from EA, marked by loot boxes that affected gameplay.

“They're more concerned with selling clothes for the character than ensuring that the grind and skate work in a fun way,” criticized a player in forums about the game.

On the other hand, defenders point out that the focus is on cosmetics, which does not affect gameplay - an approach already used in titles like Fortnite or Apex Legends, from EA itself.

What to expect from now on?

With the official release of Skate scheduled only for 2025, there is still time for adjustments, but the message from the community seems clear: before charging, deliver the game. It remains to be seen how EA and Full Circle will handle this feedback and whether they will maintain or adjust the microtransaction system as the game progresses.

Meanwhile, players are already preparing for the Early Access, which promises to bring the first open experience to the public, but, as everything indicates, it will already start full of purchase options.

And you? What do you think of a Closed Alpha with microtransactions? Do you think EA is "pushing it" or is it a necessary step to test the system? Let us know in the comments!