The reception to Activision and Vicarious Visions’ re-release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 has been very positive, to say the least. These are two well-remembered classic skateboarding games, bundled together in the new Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remaster. Unsurprisingly, Tony Hawk fans are hoping that Activision has plans for further remasters in the future. They just might get what they want, if a new rumor spinning out of recently-shared holiday Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 promo art is to be believed.
For Christmas and this past Halloween, the official Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Twitter account has shared a holiday card of sorts with fans. For Christmas, it’s a skull-faced Santa Clause shouting, “Jolly ollies to all!!” and for Halloween, there’s a skeleton skater (appropriately wearing elbow and knee pads) doing a Japan Air over a graveyard. What’s of specific interest in these images, however, is a repeating equation slipped into the background like an Easter egg. The equation reads “12 < 312” and has no given context.
While there’s no given context for the equation, it should be obvious why fans are reading into the hidden message. The “12” could be read as representing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, the “<” could be seen as meaning “is less than” or as “is leading into,” and the “312” could be referring to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, a remaster, or some kind of bundle of the first three Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games.
There’s no obvious answer to the mystery of the equation, however. That it’s written “312” instead of “123” or even just a lone “3” adds confusion to the situation. Some believe it implies the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 remaster will be bundled with the 1 + 2 remasters, or released as an expansion. Others argue it could mean Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 will be bundled with both Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Underground and its sequel.
What complicates the matter is that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 developer Vicarious Visions is now a part of Blizzard. It’s unlikely to be making a new Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game anytime soon unless it’s Diablo-themed. That said, it’s possible that Activision handed the project over to another studio in 2021.
Long story short, there’s no official indication that a new Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater project is currently in development. All that the rumor is based on is a cryptic message hidden in two pieces of official art for the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise. However, it’s also clear fans would love to see Activision release more Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, just like how Crash Bandicoot has been handled. Time will tell if Activision delivers.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
