Session: Skate Sim

{{Infobox video game

| title = Session: Skate Sim

| image = Session, Skate Sim Steam.jpeg

| developer = Crea-ture Studios

| publisher = Nacon

| director =

| producer =

| designer =

| programmer =

| artist =

| writer =

| composer =

| engine = Unreal Engine 4

| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|Microsoft Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X/S}}

| released = Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S{{Video game release|WW|22 September 2022}}Nintendo Switch{{Video game release|NA|9 March 2023|WW|16 March 2023}}

| genre = Sports

| modes = Single-player

}}

Session: Skate Sim is a sports video game developed by independent developer Crea-ture Studios for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is considered a spiritual successor to the Skate series.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/articles/612973/A+Session+with+creature+Studios/ |title=A Session with crea-ture Studios |website=Gamereactor UK |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=2018-01-01}}

Gameplay

Session is an open-ended video game.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/the-pc-needs-a-new-skateboarding-game/ |title=The PC needs a new skateboarding game |magazine=PC Gamer |language=en |last=Paget|first=Mat|date=7 May 2017|access-date=13 December 2017}} The game is presented in the style of a fish-eye lens from a mini DV format camera.

Session differs from the Skate and Tony Hawk series by adhering strictly to physics-based simulation of the board.

Development

Session: Skate Sim was conceived in 2015 under two working titles, Project: Session, followed by Session.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/07/03/project-session-is-a-skateboarding-game-without-combos/157238/ |title=Project: Session is a Skateboarding Game Without Combos |website=Hardcore Gamer |date=3 July 2015 |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2017}} Developer Marc-Andre Houde described the inspiration for the game as a passion for the sport.{{Cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/with-session-one-studio-aims-to-reinvent-skateboarding-games-473747.phtml |title=With Session, one studio aims to reinvent skateboarding games |website=Destructoid |date=21 November 2017 |access-date=13 December 2017 |archive-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203093536/https://www.destructoid.com/with-session-one-studio-aims-to-reinvent-skateboarding-games-473747.phtml |url-status=dead }} Houde stated the game would be developed using Unreal Engine 4. Originally, the team had planned to build the game in Unity, but the team was attracted to Unreal's multiplayer capabilities.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/features/356491-session-exclusive-interview-reviving-skate-genre-switch-games-service |title=Session Interview: Skate Genre, Games-as-Service, Switch |date=16 November 2017 |website=GameRevolution |language=en-US |access-date=13 December 2017}}

In early November 2017, Crea-ture Studios released a free demo for Session.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/skateboarding-game-session-gets-a-free-pc-demo/ |title=Skateboarding game Session gets a free PC demo |magazine=PC Gamer |date=10 November 2017 |language=en |access-date=13 December 2017}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/11/10/spiritual-successor-to-skate-series-session-gets-free-demo-today/ |title=Spiritual successor to Skate series, Session, gets free demo today |website=VG247.com |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=13 December 2017}} A trailer released shows several clips of the demo, which is set in an unnamed jail and allows players to freely skate in a closed skatepark.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2017/11/23/session-kickstarter-launch-trailer-ign-me |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213144841/http://www.ign.com/videos/2017/11/23/session-kickstarter-launch-trailer-ign-me |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 December 2017 |title=Skate Spiritual Successor Launches Kickstarter Campaign - IGN Video |language=en |access-date=13 December 2017}} Later that month, the project was brought to crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, which successfully reached its initial goal after three days.{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/skateboarding-game-session-successfully-crowdfunded-backer-votes-to-shape-stretch-goals/ |title=Skateboarding game Session successfully crowdfunded, backer votes to shape stretch goals |magazine=PC Gamer |date=29 November 2017 |language=en |access-date=13 December 2017}} A trailer for Session was unveiled during the Microsoft conference at E3 2018.{{cite web |title=Session is the unofficial Skate 3 sequel that you've been dreaming about, coming to Xbox One and PC next year |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/session-is-the-unofficial-skate-3-sequel-that-youve-been-dreaming-about-coming-to-xbox-one-and-pc-next-year/ |website=GamesRadar |date=10 June 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018 |language=en}} Session was released on Steam Early Access on 17 September 2019,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMujf8nldFk|title=Session - Steam Early Access Teaser|date=13 August 2019 |via=www.youtube.com}} and for Xbox Game Preview on 17 June 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/100195109/session-skateboarding-simulation-game-by-crea-ture/posts/2709091 |title=Update 49: XBOX Game Preview Update · Session - Skateboarding simulation game by crea-ture Studios |website=Kickstarter |language=en |access-date=2019-12-13}} On 18 January 2021, it was announced that Nacon would be publishing Session.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-18 |title=Nacon to publish Session |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/01/nacon-to-publish-session |access-date=2021-01-19 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} In July 2021, it was announced that the game would be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.{{cite web |title=Session to launch for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/session-to-launch-for-ps5-xbox-series-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc |website=Gematsu |date=7 July 2021 |access-date=14 July 2021}} Nearly a year later, it was announced that a full release would be available on 22 September 2022.{{cite web |last=Mäki |first=Jonas |date=31 May 2022 |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/the-skateboard-sim-session-launches-in-september-1087483/ |title=The skateboard sim Session launches in September |publisher=Gamereactor |accessdate=31 May 2022}} In February 2022, the game was renamed from Session to Session: Skate Sim.{{Cite tweet|number=1494244802069737482|user=actionofcreate|title=Those of you on the ball this morning may have noticed somethin' a little different with our name and logo. Just thought we'd freshen it up a abit. #SessionSkateSim|author=creā-ture Studios|date=2022-02-17|access-date=2022-11-24}} On 22 January 2023, a Nintendo Switch version was announced for a 16 March 2023 release.{{cite web |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=22 January 2023 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2023/01/session-skate-sim-shreds-onto-nintendo-switch-in-2023 |title=Session: Skate Sim Shreds Onto Nintendo Switch In 2023 |publisher=Nintendo Life |accessdate=22 January 2023}}

A port to Unreal 5 was planned, but its cancellation was eventually announced in September 2024: {{Cite web |last=Crea-ture Studios |date=2024-09-26 |title=Session: Skate Sim - Crea-ture Developer Blog #15 - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/861650/view/4682144073833466792?l=english |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}

After in depth study on the stability and feasibility the investment required to get our physics and core gameplay integrated with the change to the physics engine is too high. There are also no guarantees that we would be able to match, or improve, the core gameplay beyond what can be achieved in our current engine version.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (NS) 47/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/session-skate-sim/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Session: Skate Sim for Switch Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=22 September 2022}}
(PC) 73/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/session-skate-sim/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Session: Skate Sim for PC Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=22 September 2022}}
(PS5) 67/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/session-skate-sim/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Session: Skate Sim for PlayStation 5 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=22 September 2022}}
(XSXS) 64/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/session-skate-sim/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |title=Session: Skate Sim for Xbox Series X Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=22 September 2022}}

| IGN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Luke |date=28 September 2022 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/session-skate-sim-review |title=Session: Skate Sim Review - Close but no cigar. |publisher=IGN |accessdate=28 September 2022}}

| NLife = {{Rating|5|10}}{{cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=PJ |date=9 March 2023 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/session-skate-sim |title=Session: Skate Sim Review (Switch) |publisher=Nintendo Life |accessdate=9 March 2023}}

| NWR = 5.5/10{{cite web |last=Orona |first=Alex |date=9 March 2023 |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/63094/session-skate-sim-switch-review |title=Session: Skate Sim (Switch) Review |publisher=Nintendo World Report |accessdate=9 March 2023}}

| NME = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Andy |date=23 September 2022 |title='Session: Skate Sim' review: a garish grind |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/session-skate-sim-review-3314623 |publisher=NME |accessdate=23 September 2022}}

| PSQ = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web |last=McCrae |first=Scott |date=22 September 2022 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/session-skate-sim |title=Mini Review: Session: Skate Sim (PS5) - A Realism Focused Love Letter to Skating, For Better or Worse |publisher=Push Square |accessdate=22 September 2022}}

| SN = 6/10{{cite web |last=Shaver |first=Morgan |date=28 September 2022 |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/132464/session-skate-sim-review |title=Session: Skate Sim review: Boneless and raw |publisher=Shacknews |accessdate=28 September 2022}}

}}

Session: Skate Sim received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.