On September 29 , the Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater serial publication will turn 25 geezerhood old . discharge in 1999 for the original PlayStation , the Pro Skater games would leave an gross mark on the video game industry and skateboarding culture . Not only would they create a long - lasting series forActivision , but they would also popularize extreme sports games , open up the doors for the usage of accredited medicine in games , and create an on - ramp to skating culture for a whole multiplication . Over the last 25 years , the serial has get going through lots of ups and down feather , with its most recent release being 2020’sTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 , a remaster of the first two plot in the serial .
Since then , it has been still on the Pro Skater front outside of a cameo inAstro Bot , but Activision is using its 25th day of remembrance to reassure fans that it recognizes the series ’ importance . In an exclusive audience with Digital Trends , Activision Chief Operating Officer Josh Taub said that the company has “ heard the demand ” for more Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater and still considers the serial one of its important Congress of Racial Equality franchises in 2024 .
“ The Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater franchise is celebrating 25 long time this calendar month , and it remains an authoritative Congress of Racial Equality enfranchisement for Activision today . The winner of the franchise is a will to its bequest and the community of histrion , ” Taub enjoin Digital Trends .
Reflecting on the serial for its 25th anniversary , it ’s clear that it ’s time for the serial to make a retort . While Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater has n’t had the smooth journeying over the past 25 years , its undeniable impact raise why it should skate on .
Pro Skater takes off
Some of my early gaming remembering are of watch my cousin playTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 2on their PlayStation . I would n’t in person own any Tony Hawk games untilTony Hawk ’s Project 8 in 2006 , but by then , I had played plenty of the games at friends ’ houses . While my parent banned me from skateboard maturate up , I have plenty of childhood friend who loved skateboard and started doing so because of Pro Skater .
Taub saysPro Skater 2is still his favored entry in the series because “ it strike the perfect balance between invention and refinement . ” He bring up its introduction of the manual , which have instrumentalist chain combo together , and “ exceptional ” level design as particular standouts .
“ It ’s a rare lesson of a sequel that did n’t just build on its harbinger , but redefine the genre , go under a benchmark many games have aim to since , ” Taub says .
We all have a different story of how we first pick up Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater or the other Tony Hawk video games and utmost sport clones that spun off from it . Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater is the rarefied game series that broke out and had a mainstream ethnic impact . Taub repeatedly stress the series ’ “ broad appeal ” and how it “ brought skateboarding to a mainstream spheric audience ” with engaging and accessible gameplay . Taub even went as far as crediting the serial as the accelerator for skateboard finallycoming to the Olympic Games , making it keenly aware that Activision recognizes the impact that this series can have .
“ The impact of the franchise really goes well beyond video games now , though , and I guess a pretty good example of that is the inclusion body of skateboarding in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games . I ’d care to think that Tony Hawk and Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater were the catalysts that sparked interest in skateboarding on a global scale , making it possible for incredible pro athlete to share their talent on the man ’s stage . ”
From Pro Skater 5 to Pro Skater 1+2
A series that has been around as long as Pro Skater has seen its ups and downs . Four games in , Tony Hawk games dropped the Pro Skater moniker and start to get path more experimental with the capable - man geographic expedition ofTony Hawk ’s Undergroundand the gimmicky peripheral ofTony Hawk ’s Ride . Still , many of these game captured some sort of audience ; I still enjoyProject 8even though it ’s considered a less secret plan in the serial .
Pro Skater ’s lawful low point come in October 2015 , when Activision releasedTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 5to disastrous issue . Pro Skater 5is widely considered the uncollectible game with the Pro Skater byname due to its general lack of culture , peculiar art style , and wretched game feel . That reception is n’t lose on Activision .
“ What ’s really important is that our games always push the gasbag in terminus of conception and set a high measure for tone , ” Taub says . “ Unfortunately , we fell unretentive withTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 5,and that experience in spades taught us some authoritative lesson . One of the biggest takeout food was the importance of taking time with development and get sure our vision aline with the expectations of our devotee . As a result , we modernise our development operation at the time to assure that all our games welcome the clip and aid they need , which includes quality control , polish , examination , and general caliber of life standards . ”
The Pro Skater series would move into its longest opening between release , five geezerhood , afterPro Skater 5 . But then , as part of Activision ’s pushing towardremasters and remakeslater in the tenner , Vicarious Visions got the chance to bring the serial publication back withTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.Rather than experiment with odd thought or tacking on some odd peripheral , Vicarious Visions render to what work and garnered a warm reception .
Taub credits Activision ’s learnings from the rocky launching ofPro Skater 5with makingPro Skater 1 + 2an even better biz . He says that the team spend a fortune of time rebuild the game ’s physics to verify it feel just mightily and honored the originals .
“ The biggest takeaway here is the importance of staying straight to what made the original plot so beloved while also throw modern improvements that always push the boundaries of innovation , ” Taub says . “ The success of the game reaffirm that respecting the past while embrace the future is critical when develop a biz with such a large fan following . ”
Pro Skater’s future
Instead , Activision combine thePro Skater 1 + 2developer into Blizzard Entertainment and it nowworks onDiablo IVas Blizzard Albany . I call for Taub about the want of any form of announce follow - up toPro Skater 1 + 2 , such as a remake ofTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 . He make for his resolution coy , but made it unmortgaged that Activision is listening to those wishes from lover .
“ Well , you know , after the success of theTony Hawk ’s Pro Skater 1 + 2remasters , we like to keep the great unwashed guessing ! ” Taub say . “ The truth is , we ’re always pass judgment what ’s next and how we can bring the best experiences to fans . While we have n’t pursued more remakes yet , it ’s not for lack of passion . But hey , never say never . We bang how much honey there is for the franchise , and we ’ve in spades hear the demand . ”
While the last PlayStationState of Play stream passedwithout any Pro Skater - related announcements , there seems to be hope for the serial ’ hereafter . In a late consultation with Mythical Kitchen , Tony Hawk himself confirmed that he had beenhaving conversation with Activision again .
“ We do n’t have anything to partake yet other than to confirm that we are blab with Tony Hawk again . Stay tuned , ” Taub respond when demand about Hawk ’s vamp .
After reflecting on Tony Hawk ’s Pro Skater serial for this important anniversary , I trust that it ’s about time for it make a comeback . This franchise is such a crucial piece of the diachronic and cultural impact of play and skateboard that it deserves more alive financial support than it has been fuck off . Although Activision did n’t forthwith capitalize on the warm reception toPro Skater 1 + 2 , I hope Activision is listen as much as Taub incriminate . This milepost of an anniversary should be a prospect to reprioritize Pro Skater as a major franchise for Activision .
