Tony Hawk reveals why Pro Skater 3 & 4 remasters were cancelled and what’s next for the franchise
The Rise and Fall of the Remaster Plans
During a revealing Twitch broadcast with content creator ‘andyTHPS,’ skateboarding legend Tony Hawk disclosed that planned remasters for Pro Skater 3 and 4 were officially cancelled following significant corporate changes at Activision.
The gaming icon confirmed during the live stream that Pro Skater 3 & 4 remasters formed part of the original development roadmap before being abruptly terminated during Activision’s internal reorganization.Following extensive speculation and community rumors about additional Pro Skater titles being in development, Hawk directly addressed why subsequent games failed to materialize and shared insights about potential future directions for the beloved franchise.When Activision disclosed in May 2020 that Vicarious Visions would handle remastering the iconic Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 collection, enthusiast anticipation reached unprecedented levels.Upon its September 2020 launch, both gaming critics and players celebrated the exceptional quality of the remastered edition. For veterans who experienced the original PlayStation 1 and 2 iterations, the perfect fusion of nostalgic gameplay with modern control schemes created an immensely satisfying experience.This triumphant remaster fueled intense community expectation for additional titles. However, substantial organizational shifts within Activision resulted in subsequent game projects being removed from production schedules, as Hawk disclosed.
During the collaborative Twitch session with andyTHPS, Tony Hawk explored whether additional Tony Hawk’s gaming titles were currently in development.
He openly discussed the abandoned plans for future gaming installations and provided context for this strategic decision. “I genuinely wish I could confirm active development on upcoming projects, but Vicarious Visions underwent dissolution and Activision is navigating extensive internal transitions, leaving future developments uncertain.”
Why THPS 1+2 Success Created Unrealized Expectations
The remarkable commercial and critical achievement of the Pro Skater 1+2 remaster established a dangerous precedent. With over 1 million copies sold in the first two weeks and maintaining “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam reviews years later, the financial justification for sequels seemed undeniable. This created a catch-22 situation where the very success that should have guaranteed sequels instead raised the development bar impossibly high for potential successor studios.
What Happened to Vicarious Visions?
Tony Hawk providing detailed explanation about THPS 3 and 4 cancellation circumstances pic.twitter.com/8ItOOA4oPn
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) June 20, 2022
Hawk further elaborated that development plans for Pro Skater 3 and 4 remained active right up until the official launch date of Pro Skater 1+2.However, the definitive turning point for the Pro Skater franchise’s future occurred when Vicarious Visions formally consolidated with Blizzard Entertainment.“Vicarious underwent assimilation into the larger corporate structure, then Activision pursued alternative development partners before ultimately terminating the projects,” he clarified.The announcement that Vicarious Visions would merge with Blizzard surprised more than just Tony Hawk. In late 2021, the three-decade-old studio rebranded as Blizzard Albany (reflecting their geographical location) and completely transitioned to focusing exclusively on Blizzard-branded games and content.
Our studio has completed the merger process with Blizzard Entertainment. Our development team continues operating from Albany, NY while dedicating efforts entirely to Blizzard game titles. We encourage you to follow our updates @Blizzard_Ent
— Vicarious Visions (@VvisionsStudio) April 12, 2022
The Domino Effect of Corporate Gaming Consolidation
The gaming industry’s trend toward studio consolidation and acquisition has created numerous casualties in beloved game franchises. When Microsoft began acquiring Activision Blizzard in 2022, the resulting corporate reshuffling often prioritizes established lucrative franchises over niche successes. Vicarious Visions’ expertise in quality remasters made them valuable assets for Blizzard’s maintenance of classic titles like Diablo II: Resurrected, effectively ending their availability for Tony Hawk projects.
This pattern reflects broader industry challenges: successful specialized studios often get absorbed into larger corporate structures, losing their creative autonomy and original project focus. For gaming enthusiasts, this means beloved franchises frequently get abandoned not due to lack of demand, but because of corporate strategic decisions that prioritize different revenue streams.
Future Prospects for the Franchise
When questioned whether project cancellation stemmed from Activision’s diminished confidence in the franchise, Hawk responded that “the reality remains they actively sought development partners for 3 and 4 but couldn’t establish equivalent trust in alternative teams compared to their confidence in Vicarious.”Thus, while Activision genuinely attempted to secure development resources for continuing the Tony Hawk’s franchise, no suitable arrangements have materialized to date. Their ongoing search for new development studios to assume control does provide some optimistic indicators.Should an appropriate development team and compelling creative vision emerge in the future, potential remains for Pro Skater 3 + 4 remasters eventually seeing release. Currently, however, players must content themselves with the Pro Skater 1 + 2 remasters which continue ranking among the most exceptional video game remakes ever produced.
What Gamers Can Do While Waiting
While the cancellation disappoints loyal fans, several strategies can help preserve the Tony Hawk gaming experience. First, the THPS 1+2 remaster includes extensive content that many players haven’t fully explored—completing all career modes, discovering hidden tapes, and mastering created parks offers dozens of additional gameplay hours. Second, community-created content through the game’s robust park editor provides nearly infinite new skating environments. Finally, supporting other skateboarding titles like Session or Skate City helps demonstrate ongoing market demand for quality skating games.
Reading the Corporate Tea Leaves
Activision’s hesitation to trust other developers with the franchise reveals both the specificity of Vicarious Visions’ expertise and the corporation’s risk-averse posture post-merger. The original development team had particular strengths in handling Neversoft’s legacy code while implementing modern gaming conventions—a rare combination that proved difficult to replicate. With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard finalized in 2023, future decisions about the franchise will ultimately rest with new corporate leadership who may approach the franchise differently.
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