Look, we all love a good Easter egg. Whether it’s a nod to your favorite cartoon or a secret room that triggers childhood flashbacks, they’re one of the things that make games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater so damn fun.
But Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 just pulled a move that’s got fans grinding their teeth—and not in a cool, kickflip-on-a-rail kind of way.
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Bikini Bottom… But Only if You Pay $20 More?
So here’s the sitch: SpongeBob SquarePants’ Bikini Bottom roller rink and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ sewer hideout are only available in the Deluxe Edition of THPS 3 + 4. If you grabbed the Standard Edition? Tough luck, you’re not invited to the pineapple under the sea.
This kind of thing—locking Easter eggs, of all things, behind a paywall—isn’t just weird. It’s rare. Easter eggs are usually fun, hidden extras meant for everyone, not bonus DLC content in disguise.
Is It Really Just a $20 Skater Pass?
Originally, the Deluxe Edition was advertised as including a few skins (like DOOM and The Revenant), some Create-a-Skater extras, and bonus tracks. Nowhere did it mention map content, let alone IP crossovers like SpongeBob and the TMNT. So when players discovered they were locked out of these areas unless they ponied up the extra $20, it felt like a low blow.
Especially since these aren’t game-changing features. They’re not weapons or stat boosts. They’re nostalgic, harmless, goofy nods—exactly the kind of stuff fans love to stumble upon.
Community Backlash & Low Steam Numbers
Let’s be honest—THPS 3 + 4 hasn’t exactly been lighting up the charts. Despite some solid critic reviews, Steam player counts are peaking at around 2,000, which is… rough for a franchise that defined an entire generation of arcade sports games.
The complaints aren’t just about the Easter eggs either. Fans are calling out cut content from the original games and saying this remake feels more like a cash grab than a celebration. And now, with this Deluxe Edition drama? That criticism just got louder.
Not All Easter Eggs Are Paywalled (Yet)
Here’s the silver lining: not everything is locked behind the Deluxe Edition. Standard players can still find some fun secrets—nostalgic nods, quirky NPCs, and hidden level goodies are still scattered across the base game. So the game’s not totally devoid of charm.
But when you’re talking about iconic crossovers like SpongeBob and the Ninja Turtles? Those feel like moments that should’ve been for everyone—not exclusive tours for Deluxe customers.
Don’t Nickel-and-Dime the Nostalgia
Fans didn’t pick up Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 because they wanted the most monetized version of their childhood. They came for sick combos, skatepark vibes, and yes, a little slice of Bikini Bottom if they were lucky.
So when you start charging extra just to see a cartoon-themed room in a game that’s already getting heat for cut content? You’re skating dangerously close to the edge, devs.
Let’s hope the backlash gets loud enough for a fix. Because honestly, the only thing more iconic than THPS’s gameplay… is its Easter eggs. And they should be for every skater, Deluxe or not.
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