Session: Skate Sim
Session: Skate Sim is a sports video game developed by Montreal independent developer Crea-ture Studios (stylized as creā-ture Studios Inc.) for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game was considered by many as the spiritual successor to the Skate series.[1]
Session: Skate Sim | |
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Developer(s) | Crea-ture Studios |
Publisher(s) | Nacon |
Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
Platform(s) | |
Release | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
|
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
Session is an open-ended video game, promised to exclude a scoring system and include a different control scheme.[2] The game is presented in the style of a fish-eye lens from a mini DV format camera.[3]
Development
Session: Skate Sim was conceived in 2015 under two working titles, Project: Session, followed by Session.[3] Between then and the two years that followed, many fans and outlets discussed a major need for a new skateboarding game.[2] Developer Marc-Andre Houde described the inspiration for the game as a passion for the sport.[4] Houde also 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.[5]
In early November 2017, Crea-ture Studios released a free demo for Session.[6][7] A trailer released by the team shows several clips of the demo, which is set in an unnamed jail and allows players to freely skate in a closed skatepark.[8] Later that month, the team opened the project on Kickstarter, which successfully reached its initial goal after three days.[9] A trailer for Session was unveiled during the Microsoft conference at E3 2018.[10] Session was released on Steam Early Access on 17 September 2019,[11] and for Xbox Game Preview on 17 June 2020.[12] On 18 January 2021, it was announced that Nacon would be publishing Session.[13] In July 2021, it was announced that the game would be fully releasing for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.[14] Nearly a year later, it was announced that a full release would be available on 22 September 2022.[15] In February 2022, the game was renamed from Session to Session: Skate Sim.[16] On 22 January 2023, a Nintendo Switch version was announced for a 16 March 2023 release.[17]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | (NS) 47/100[18] (PC) 73/100[19] (PS5) 67/100[20] (XSXS) 64/100[21] |
Publication | Score |
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IGN | 6/10[22] |
Nintendo Life | [23] |
Nintendo World Report | 5.5/10[24] |
NME | [25] |
Push Square | [26] |
Shacknews | 6/10[27] |
Session: Skate Sim received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[18][19][20][21]
References
- "A Session with crea-ture Studios". Gamereactor UK. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- Paget, Mat (7 May 2017). "The PC needs a new skateboarding game". PC Gamer. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Project: Session is a Skateboarding Game Without Combos". Hardcore Gamer. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "With Session, one studio aims to reinvent skateboarding games". Destructoid. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Session Interview: Skate Genre, Games-as-Service, Switch". GameRevolution. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Skateboarding game Session gets a free PC demo". PC Gamer. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Spiritual successor to Skate series, Session, gets free demo today". VG247.com. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Skate Spiritual Successor Launches Kickstarter Campaign - IGN Video". Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Skateboarding game Session successfully crowdfunded, backer votes to shape stretch goals". PC Gamer. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- "Session is the unofficial Skate 3 sequel that you've been dreaming about, coming to Xbox One and PC next year". GamesRadar. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- "Session - Steam Early Access Teaser" – via www.youtube.com.
- "Update 49: XBOX Game Preview Update · Session - Skateboarding simulation game by crea-ture Studios". Kickstarter. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- "Nacon to publish Session". Gematsu. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- "Session to launch for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC". Gematsu. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
- Mäki, Jonas (31 May 2022). "The skateboard sim Session launches in September". Gamereactor. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- creā-ture Studios [@actionofcreate] (17 February 2022). "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" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 November 2022 – via Twitter.
- Doolan, Liam (22 January 2023). "Session: Skate Sim Shreds Onto Nintendo Switch In 2023". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- "Session: Skate Sim for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- "Session: Skate Sim for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- "Session: Skate Sim for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- "Session: Skate Sim for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- Reilly, Luke (28 September 2022). "Session: Skate Sim Review - Close but no cigar". IGN. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- O'Reilly, PJ (9 March 2023). "Session: Skate Sim Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- Orona, Alex (9 March 2023). "Session: Skate Sim (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
- Brown, Andy (23 September 2022). "'Session: Skate Sim' review: a garish grind". NME. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- McCrae, Scott (22 September 2022). "Mini Review: Session: Skate Sim (PS5) - A Realism Focused Love Letter to Skating, For Better or Worse". Push Square. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- Shaver, Morgan (28 September 2022). "Session: Skate Sim review: Boneless and raw". Shacknews. Retrieved 28 September 2022.