
Nostalgic players on PS5 and PS4 warmly received Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, so it seemed reasonable enough to assume that another collection could be in the offing. Sadly, according to a new report, Vicarious Visions pitched Activision on the subject, but it was summarily rejected, with the studio instead being drafted into the relentless Call of Duty war machine.
This intriguing tidbit comes to us through video game historian Liam Robertson of DidYouKnowGaming, who, in a new video (thanks, VGC), claims that the plan was originally to package all four games in one big bundle, but time restraints prevented this.
According to Robertson's sources at Vicarious Visions: "We settled on adding some handling features from the later games to reflect the way people remember the old Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. The improvements from 3 seemed to bleed into people’s memories of the first 2. Eventually, it became clear that we didn’t have time for more than 1 + 2, so the idea that we’d continue on and release 3 + 4 in some fashion was on the table.”
While a pitch was reportedly presented to Activision, it was declined. Vicarious Visions was instead put to work as a support studio for Call of Duty and assisted with the release of Diablo 2: Resurrected. In 2022, Tony Hawk himself revealed that remasters of 3 + 4 were on the table right up until Vicarious Visions was fully absorbed into Activision.
Would you have liked to see Vicarious Visions complete its original vision for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series? Kickflip into the comments section below.
Comments 24
Really sad that Activision went from having a variety of developers working on completely different ideas for games to combining them into one for just Call of Duty.
That's dumb and entirely expected behavior.
I know Ms buying Activision isn't popular around here and, heck given that it's led to ignoring the console it's not even that popular in the Xbox world at this point, but this is a reminder of why it's probably a good thing.
Because everyone knows you need at least 25 combined teams regurgitation the same stale fps every year, variety is for suckers and losers!
@NEStalgia It's a rare instance where one giant conglomerate swallowing another will probably result in more variety instead of less. Activision has some IPs. I want some platformers.
Shame. The THPS 1+2 remake wascpretty amazing and really gave that 99s nostalgia hit. 3&4 would have been very welcome.
As much as I personally would've loved it, I think they would've found it hard to sell a 3 + 4 remake when all the gameplay improvements from those games were already present in the 1 + 2 remake.
The biggest shame is that they didn't use the momentum of the remake to release a completely new entry that could've breathed new life into the franchise.
Wish I could go back in a time machine and make them accept this pitch, Tony Hawk 1-4 would be so good
Gutted. The 1 and 2 remake was so damn good.
This was a great decision by Activision, since Call of Duty would lose its originality and flair otherwise
Of course they did. Activision IS one of the worst publishers out there, after all. Why focus on making a remake of a beloved franchise when you can poop out the millionth Call of Duty, right? Good lord..
That is a shame. They made such a good job with THPS 1+2. I personally have more nostalgia for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 and 4 anyway, so I would've loved to see them get a re-release.
@NEStalgia But what is the good thing then so far?
@Ainu20 But you get a new game with the new levels whats the issue here? COD is all the same i ratjer habe seen Tony Hawk 3+4 then this.
Just gutted. My dream project.
More crash bandicoot is welcome.word up son
@Flaming_Kaiser Not an issue for me, and I would probably rather see even the worst THPS game remade instead of a new COD, it's just my suspicion that it wouldn't have sold as well as the 1+2 remake.
@Ainu20 Agreed. I’d have followed up 1& 2 with a new game that had the spirit of those two and maybe some slightly adjusted gameplay twerks. Then if it was a hit as well, do it all over again with 3 & 4 and another new game following that.
Which part of this is new information?
The day Activision tried to put all of their teams into making Call of Duty, was the day the series became Call of Doody. 🤪
I don't buy many new games on day one anymore but this would have definitely been one of them
I'm so shocked (not really). Activision thinks that only Call of Duty matters.
While I loved Diablo 2… Could we see a Tony Hawk revival under Microsoft’s tutelage?
For the sake of game preservative Microsoft needs to let that be made. As well as remasters of American Wasteland and Underground. Then cap them all off with a new game
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