The Activision and PlayStation duo put out a demo for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4—and therein lies a catch. To enter and try out the game, one has to pre-order it; one has to read that phrase twice to make sure it is correct. Players started off on the wrong foot, annoyed because the demo allows one to literally shred on the Foundry and College maps—but with a paywall ahead of it.
Following the announcement, a backlash erupted almost immediately against PlayStation, and consumers started responding with other criticisms of the move: “anti-consumer” and “stupid.” One user, @Freshprinz992, stated: “The whole purpose of a demo is to test out the game before you buy it. This is so anti-consumer that it’s funny—can’t be surprised it’s Activision.” Others, with @sweetflip1, talked about when demos were supposed to be free.
That said, the anger is not unanimous. For instance, @SolChap0 merely stays excited: “Yooo, the demo’s 🔥 – can’t wait to shred those maps!” Meanwhile, @PromptlyAI_YT is keeping eyes elsewhere for the premiere of an Underground 1+2 remake.
According to @Saheal_, there’s something street-legal-ish in the UK: If you are with O2, you can access the demo for free via O2 Priority. So, welcome to your freebie, from me.
Supposedly, the demo is a pretty decent shorter version of the whole game; @DiBartoloJoseph had a great time: “Been doing the college course….. Fun as fyuck!!” And, well, for real, can we ask why is it locked behind pre-orders? Somehow, @GEORGIOARCADE managed to sum it all up: “Wouldn’t it be better and more marketable to give gamers the demo with the two maps for free? Which would actually get more people on board to pre-order the game.”
Until now, neither side has responded; maybe, with all the noise surrounding the pre-order approach, a voice or two might sway one or both sides to reconsider it, or else just brush it off and keep counting those pre-order bucks. Either way, for a fortunate few, the opportunity is finally here—one must shell out the dough to actually try the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 demo.
Those still holding out for a free demo may or may not want to take another shot at THPS 1+2 until a decision is made. Or perhaps that might be worth throwing together: a petition or some such.
And so it stands: A demo-for-money, dozens of pissed-off gamers, and an elite few O2 members. Really, a classic moment of 2024 gaming.
