Alright, let’s discuss shredding with your pals in the Skate series. What’s skateboarding without showing off or bailing in front of someone? From early multiplayer to enhanced versions, the Skate franchise let you and your crew kickflip down digital stairs.
Skate Series Multiplayer: A History of Rolling with the Homies
The Skate series is known for its realistic skateboarding and innovative controls. From the start, it recognized that skating is about camaraderie, trash-talking, and shared slams. Let’s break down how multiplayer evolved in the main Skate titles.
Skate 1: The Multiplayer Proto-Shredder
The original Skate was the first venture into online multiplayer. It was an experimental phase for Skate multiplayer. The Skate Wiki states that multiplayer was a “feature introduced in the first game that has evolved a lot”.
Skate 1 offered three online options: Ranked Match, Unranked Match, and Online Freeskate. Ranked Matches featured various games like Jam, S.K.A.T.E., and Spot Battle. Unranked matches had a laid-back vibe, good for practicing flips without ruining your e-reputation.
Online Freeskate was a digital skatepark sandbox. You could cruise with other players, find spots, and have a session. It was unstructured, focusing on vibing and landing tricky tricks.
Skate 2: Party Play and Expanding the Crew
Skate 2 raised the bar, enhancing digital skate sessions with more players. It introduced “party play” for offline fun, allowing four local players. Picture the bragging rights on your couch! If friends weren’t nearby, online multiplayer connected you for competitive or cooperative skate fun.
Skate 3: Co-op Skateboarding and… DLC for Local Play?
Skate 3 leaned heavily into co-op play. EA announced it would provide the “definitive co-op skateboarding experience.” The focus shifted toward building your skate team while reshaping Port Carverton. Online Freeskate returned, allowing you to join sessions or create private ones for friends.
Now, things turned interesting. Skate 3 removed offline multiplayer from the disc. Yes, you read that correctly. Local “Party Play” was locked in DLC. You had to pay extra for couch multiplayer magic from Skate 2. It was a letdown but at least it was available separately.
Local Multiplayer: Couch Co-op Skate Style
Let’s focus on local multiplayer, or “split-screen” or “couch co-op.” This is the joy of gaming next to someone on the same couch. It combats digital isolation while allowing you to share snacks and react in real-time when landing tricks.
Local multiplayer allows playing games like *LEGO Fortnite*, *Battle Royale*, and *Zero Build* on consoles like PlayStation and Xbox. It provides instant fun without needing online players. “Local co-op” or “couch co-op” means playing cooperatively on one system, often using split-screen to divide the display. It’s like classic arcade gaming at home.
Skate 2: Four-Player Local Party Mayhem
Skate 2 embraced local play, allowing four players to engage in “party play” challenges. Four players on one screen fighting for skate glory? A fun yet chaotic evening awaits.
Skate 3: Party Play DLC – The Price of Local Fun?
Skate 3 took a different approach. While it had local multiplayer with “Party Play,” you needed the “San Van Party Pack” DLC to access it. It wasn’t ideal but the option existed. For the classic Skate 2 experience, you had to buy additional content.
Skate Games and Local Multiplayer: The Specifics
Let’s address some burning questions about local multiplayer.
Is Skate 3 Two-Player Local?
Yes, Skate 3 can support two players locally and even four! But you need the “San Van Party Pack” DLC for offline “Party Play.” Without that DLC, local multiplayer isn’t available in the base game.
Is Skate 2 Local Multiplayer?
Absolutely! Skate 2 was a local multiplayer champion from the start. Up to four players could enter “party play” mode without any need for DLC. Grab some extra controllers and enjoy skate competition on your couch.
Skate Compared: Other Games Getting the Split-Screen Memo
The Skate series isn’t alone in appreciating local multiplayer. Many games understand the joy of split-screen options, allowing shared gaming in physical spaces. Let’s explore a few examples.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2: Split-Screen Skate Revival
*Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2* gets the split-screen memo right. As Activision Support confirms, “You can play split screen in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2.” It includes a range of modes: Free Skate, Trick Attack, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, Combo Challenge, Graffiti, Horse, and Tag.
Split/Second: High-Speed Split-Screen Explosions
*Split/Second* also delivers split-screen love. It features “Intense Multiplayer”, allowing two-player offline modes. Compete in various game types and enjoy explosive racing fun on your couch.
It Takes Two & A Way Out: Co-op Focus, Local and Online
Games like *It Takes Two* and *A Way Out* prioritize cooperative play. Split-screen gameplay is essential to their design. *It Takes Two* is only playable in local or online split-screen co-op while *A Way Out* requires two players either locally or online with a side-by-side split display.
More Games in the Local Multiplayer Arena
Beyond skating and racing, local multiplayer thrives in many genres. *LEGO Fortnite*, *Battle Royale*, and *Zero Build* on consoles provide split-screen options. This feature allows up to four players on the same screen simultaneously. If you have a friend at home, try these games together.
The brand new split screen mode for unbeatable local fun! The excitement is clear.
Skate 4 (or Skate.?) on the Horizon: Multiplayer Dreams
The skateboarding world waits for the next Skate. *Skate 4* or *Skate.* EA and Full Circle have said *Skate.* will release in Early Access in 2025. The date? February 25, 2025. Mark it on your digital calendars, details are slow like a skater uphill.
*Skate.* will be on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Mobile versions are planned, but no news for Nintendo Switch. As for multiplayer? Online is expected due to history and trends. Local multiplayer? We hope. Many want couch co-op. Imagine next-gen split-screen skate battles!
Party Play: Offline Multiplayer in the Skate Universe
Split-Screen Tech: Consoles and… Windows Snap?
Split-screen is clear on consoles. Multiple players share the same screen for fun. But what about PC? True split-screen isn’t common. Windows 10 and 11 have a “Snap” feature. It divides the screen equally for work. It’s not made for gaming, though. It’s not like split-screen gaming.
Games Saying “No Thanks” to Split-Screen
Not every game supports split-screen. A few games, due to design choices, skip local multiplayer. Here are some that do not have it.
Fall Guys: Solo Stumbles Only
*Fall Guys* is a wild online game. It only plays solo for local play. No split screen available in *Fall Guys*. It’s all about online fun, nothing for couch bean battles.
Riders Republic: Online Riders Only
*Riders Republic*, the extreme sports game, stays online for multiplayer. Officially, “Riders Republic has no split-screen or local co-op play.” You can play online with others but can’t share a screen.
PAYDAY 2: Officially Split-Screen-less (But PC Master Race Wins Again?)
*PAYDAY 2* does not support split-screen. Consoles and PCs are limited here. However, PC players can seek mods. They can use a program called Nucleus Coop for dual-screen setup. This allows local co-op action, bending the rules.
So there you have it – a brief overview of multiplayer in the Skate series, a take on split-screen joy, and a comparison with games that support it and those that don’t. Whether recalling Skate 2 couch battles or anticipating *Skate.* multiplayer, the love for shredding with friends, near or far, is strong. Excuse me now, I must dust off my Skate 3 copy and search for the San Van Party Pack DLC in the digital world.
