Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 recently made its debut on Steam after three years of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store. This was undoubtedly an exciting moment for fans, but it came with a catch. The game carried over the always-online requirement from its Epic version, much to the disappointment of many players. However, a recent 1.1 patch for the Steam version introduced offline play. Strangely enough, this feature is only available on the Steam Deck, a handheld device, raising questions about the decision-making behind this exclusivity.
The inclusion of offline play in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a positive step forward, considering the game supports both solo play and local multiplayer. It makes sense to prioritize a handheld device like the Steam Deck, designed for on-the-go gaming outside the confines of a home Wi-Fi network. However, it’s perplexing why this feature is restricted to the Steam Deck alone. Why not extend this capability to all Steam players on their PCs? Why not even include players on the Epic Games Store? The lack of consistency in this decision raises questions about potential favoritism.
Valve’s Steam Deck is undoubtedly a remarkable handheld device, and developers should put effort into optimizing their games for it. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 has a Steam Deck-specific graphics option preset. It’s commendable when developers consider the unique characteristics of different platforms. However, when it comes to a basic quality-of-life improvement like offline play, restricting it to one platform seems unfair and unbalanced.
Fortunately, there is still hope for change. Activision Blizzard, the company behind Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, recently made headlines with a staggering $68.7 billion valuation. With such financial resources at their disposal, it would be reasonable to expect them to address the limitation and extend offline play to all platforms, not just the Steam Deck. The presence of the game’s new offline playerbase is unlikely to have a significant impact on the company’s enormous media empire, and it would be a missed opportunity not to embrace inclusivity.
Despite the questionable decision to limit offline play to the Steam Deck, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remains a highly regarded game. However, it is important to critically analyze choices made by developers and question their reasoning. Exclusivity, especially when it comes to basic features like offline play, can be detrimental to the overall gaming experience and create an uneven playing field. Hopefully, the developers will reconsider their decision and allow all players, regardless of their chosen platform, to enjoy the game offline.
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