GAMING

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 confirmed for 2015 release

It's been years since Tony Hawk last kick-flipped a virtual skateboard, but the digital retirement is at an end with Activision's announcement of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5. The game will be heading to PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC later this year.

Confusingly, it will actually be the tenth core entry in the series. After four Pro Skater instalments, the series rebranded as Tony Hawk's Underground for two entries from 2002, followed by American Wasteland, Project 8, and most recently Proving Ground in 2007.

The return of the original branding and numbering indicates a desire to recapture what made the early games nigh unto a phenomenon. Activision even seems keen to ignore the games released since 2002's Pro Skater 4, focusing on the thirteen year gap between Pro Skater instalments and saying the fifth will "retain the timeless, combo-driven energy and tightly designed levels of the Pro Skater games while expanding the experience with online play."

The new entry will be developed by Robomodo, which has previously helmed Tony Hawk's spinoff titles including peripheral-based Ride and Shred, and Disruptive Games, which specialises in crafting online content for titles. Robomodo may not be immediately welcomed by fans of the series though, as Ride was the lowest-rated Tony Hawk's game ever, panned by critics and consumers alike. However, the same studio produced 2012's HD remake of the first game, which was better received.