Hey skaters, let’s talk about the elephant in the halfpipe — Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 just hit Steam, and the launch… kinda stumbled. Despite tons of hype and nostalgia-fueled excitement, the game’s off to a slow roll when it comes to player count and community reviews. But before we bust out the sad trombone, there’s a bit more to unpack.
Steam Numbers Are Low — But Not a Total Wipeout
On launch day, THPS 3 + 4 peaked at around 2,214 concurrent players on Steam. That’s not terrible by any stretch, but definitely underwhelming considering the buzz leading up to release. For comparison, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 pulled in just 1,804 at peak on Steam — but that was three years after its original launch elsewhere.
So what’s going on? Why the slow start?
Related Article: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Pre-Load Goes Live on Xbox Series X|S
Blame It on Game Pass (Kind Of)
Here’s the kicker: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launched day one on Xbox Game Pass, and that includes the PC tier. So, yeah — a whole bunch of players likely skipped the $49.99 price tag on Steam and just downloaded it through their Game Pass subscription.
Honestly, can you blame them?
With Game Pass offering such a stacked library (and THPS 3 + 4 being available on both Xbox and PC from day one), it’s a no-brainer for budget-conscious players to go that route.
Mixed Steam Reviews? It’s Not Just a PC Thing
Steam reviews for THPS 3 + 4 currently sit at “Mixed” — about 68% positive. That’s definitely a step down from the near-universal praise 1 + 2 got back in 2020.
But the complaints aren’t about performance or bugs. Instead, they seem focused on controversial changes to Pro Skater 4’s career mode — stuff that rubbed longtime fans the wrong way. There was also some pre-release drama about whether Jackass legend Bam Margera would be in the game (he’s not), which added fuel to the fire.
Bottom line: The core gameplay’s still solid, but the design tweaks didn’t land with everyone.
Read: Bam Margera Confirmed as Unlockable Skater in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake
Skateboarding Games Are Having a Moment
The wild thing is, we’re in a mini skateboarding game renaissance right now:
- Session: Skate Sim is going strong with its realistic take on skating.
- EA’s new Skate reboot is heading into Early Access this year.
- And of course, the Tony Hawk series is still going, even if it hit a speed bump.
So yeah, if you’re a skate game fan, you’ve got options. And honestly, that might be another reason 3 + 4 didn’t explode on day one — players are spread out across a growing genre.
A Solid Game With a Shaky Launch
If you’re a fan of the series or just love arcade-style skating, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 still offers a lot to love. But between Game Pass availability, career mode changes, and a busy genre, its Steam launch was never gonna be a slam dunk.
That said, strong critic reviews and fan nostalgia might give it legs in the long run — especially if Iron Galaxy listens to community feedback and patches in some career mode tweaks or bonus content down the line.
Summary:
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launched with just over 2,200 peak players on Steam.
- The day-one Game Pass release likely siphoned off a ton of would-be Steam players.
- Steam reviews are “Mixed” mostly due to career mode changes in Pro Skater 4, not bugs or performance.
- The skateboarding game scene is heating up, with more competition than ever.
Thinking of diving in? Grab it on Game Pass first and see how it feels before buying — or stick around for potential patches if you’re holding out for a better career mode experience.
Also read: Trials of Mana and Legend of Mana Now Available on Xbox Game Pass Standard