Since Tony Hawk's insanely successful video game debut right before the turn of the the millennium, countless iterations of skateboard simulations have been released bearing the vert ramp titan's name. With their easy-to-play and well-polished game mechanics scored by smooth, meticulously curated soundtracks, the games became a phenomenon unlike no other until over-saturation caused the franchise to slow its release schedule. But several months ago, in a bid to win THPS fans' hearts and reinvigorate the series, Activision had Tony Hawk announcing the release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5.

With traditional, objective-based gameplay being a THPS hallmark, subsequent releases in the series slowly started to expand upon the established and popular multiplayer modes of the original, like “Trick Attack” and “Horse”, by offering those modes online. Unfortunately, for those still playing last-gen systems, Activision announced today that the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 will not include online functionality.

While the news is no doubt disappointing for gamers stuck with older consoles, next-gen players have yet another thing to celebrate (or dare we say, gloat), as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One releases will contain “seamless online multiplayer.” This will allow Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 fans to shred with or against players from all around the world, while also letting them build and share their own custom skate parks with the Web community.

Activision hasn't made it clear as to why last-gen versions of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 will go without multiplayer, but the decision to ax the feature really comes as no surprise. Much like the systems before them, the previous crop of consoles are going the way of the buffalo. So, with announcements like Ubisoft forgoing triple-A games for PS3 and Xbox 360, why should Activision provide online support for dying platforms? It simply wouldn't be fiscally sound to do so.

With Activision taking significant steps toward distancing itself from bygone technology, it's important that the game developer balances such forward thinking with reverence to the classic elements that made the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise such a coveted commodity. And even though in-depth details are slim at the moment, the company understands the hardcore love fans have for the series. After announcing that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 will be a return to the property's roots, giving glimpses into the Create-A-Skater mode and releasing shortlist of old and new pro skaters alike, it seems as if Activision has the situation under control.

Excited about the return of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series? Which parks and skate spots from the previous games in the series do you want to see make a return?

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 is set to drop later this year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

Source: Video Gamer