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Skater XL Release Date Announcement Trailer Shows Off Downtown LA Map
Easy Day Studios has announced an official release window for Skater XL via a trailer that shows off the game’s downtown LA map. Skater XL launched into an Early Access state via Steam on December 19, 2018.
The game has received a wealth of praise from fans and critics despite its glorified beta status. Since the game’s Early Access debut, developer Easy Day Studios has mentioned its desire to bring new creative skateboarding methods to consoles, hinting at a future port to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and perhaps Nintendo Switch.
According to PCGamesN, Skater XL will officially launch in July 2020. Easy Day Studios also “revealed that legendary skating pros Tom Asta, Tiago Lemos, Evan Smith, and Brendan Westgate will appear in the game as playable characters.” Moreover, the announcement trailer showcases the game’s downtown LA map and some of the city’s key landmarks, such as the Staples Center and Caltrans District 7 Headquarters. Unlike other skateboarding games, such as the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS) series, Skater XL aims for a more realistic and nuanced control scheme, requiring players to be more meticulous in their micromanagement of performing tricks.
Skater XL is one of the first skateboarding games in a while to garner more than a modicum of attention. While the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series has impacted skateboarding since the franchise’s inception in 1999, it did little to showcase the actual skill required to manipulate the board and compete against gravity. Skater XL, however, seeks to remedy this shortcoming through the implementation of some form of realistic physics.
While the skating genre hasn’t had quite the same impact on the video game industry as other sports titles, such as the Madden NFL or NBA 2K franchises, it at least gives the sport some attention and appeals to a niche group of fans. The gaming industry is vast, and its community is even larger. Having something that speaks to a specific audience does wonders to boost morale, especially in times of crisis. Skater XL will be joining the likes of THPS, Aggressive Inline, and Shaun White Snowboarding to highlight sports that are often overshadowed by the massive spotlights shining on the NFL and NBA.
Skater XL released in Early Access on December 19, 2018 and is available on PC via Steam.
