You remember that feeling when the Warehouse level first loaded in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake? The lighting was perfect. The physics felt exactly like your childhood memories, only somehow smoother. It was a massive hit. Naturally, everyone—myself included—immediately started asking, "Okay, when are we getting THPS 3 + 4 on PS4?"
It felt like a sure thing.
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The logic was simple. Vicarious Visions had basically saved the franchise from the grave after the THPS 5 disaster. They had the engine ready. They had the assets. But then, the corporate gears of Activision Blizzard started turning, and everything went quiet. If you've been scouring the PlayStation Store looking for a pre-order button that doesn't exist, there's a pretty heartbreaking reason why that project stalled out.
The Tragic Reason THPS 3 + 4 PS4 Got Scrapped
Honestly, it’s a bummer. Tony Hawk himself eventually went on record during a Twitch stream with AndyTHPS to confirm what many of us feared. He basically said that the plan was to do 3 and 4. It wasn't just a rumor. Vicarious Visions was supposed to handle it. They were the golden child of the remake era.
Then Blizzard happened.
In early 2021, Activision decided to merge Vicarious Visions into Blizzard Entertainment to work on Diablo IV and other properties. They weren't an independent studio anymore; they were a support team. Tony mentioned that Activision looked for other studios to take over the THPS 3 + 4 PS4 project, but they didn't trust anyone else to match the quality Vicarious had achieved. So, they just... stopped.
It’s one of those "what if" moments in gaming history. We were this close to seeing the Foundry or the Cruise Ship in 4K. Instead, the project was mothballed, leaving the PS4 and PS5 libraries with a giant, skater-shaped hole where the sequels should be.
What People Get Wrong About Playing THPS 3 and 4 Today
I see people online all the time saying, "Just buy the old discs, they work on PS4."
They don't.
Let's be clear: the PlayStation 4 is not backwards compatible with physical PS2 or PS1 discs. You can’t just pop in your old copy of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and expect it to run. And unlike some other classic franchises, Activision hasn't released "PS2 Classics" versions of these specific games for the modern store because of a nightmare scenario: music licensing.
The Licensing Trap
The soundtrack is the soul of these games. Songs by CKY, Motörhead, and The Ramones aren't cheap. To re-release THPS 3 + 4 PS4 as digital ports, Activision would have to renegotiate every single track. Most of the time, they decide it’s just not worth the legal fees. This is why the 1+2 remake was such a big deal—they actually put in the work to get the music back. Without a full remake, the original versions of 3 and 4 are likely never coming to the PSN store.
How to Actually Play THPS 3 and 4 Right Now
Since we aren't getting a native PS4 remake anytime soon, you've got to get creative. If you're dying for that fix of the Los Angeles or Canada levels, you have a few actual options. None of them involve a PS4, which sucks, but it’s the reality of the situation.
- PC and the "THPS Pro" Mod: This is the gold standard. If you have even a decent laptop, you can run the PC versions of the original games. There is a massive community project called THPSpro that essentially ports the levels and mechanics into a unified engine. It’s the closest thing to a modern remaster we have.
- Original Hardware: Dust off the PS2 or the original Xbox. Honestly, these games still play remarkably well on a CRT television.
- Steam Deck/Handhelds: If you’re into the emulation scene, playing these titles on a handheld feels like magic. It’s the "remaster" experience Activision denied us.
The Mechanics That Made 3 and 4 Different
It’s worth remembering why we wanted a THPS 3 + 4 PS4 bundle so badly in the first place. These two games changed everything.
THPS 3 introduced the Revert. It sounds small now, but back then? It was a revolution. Before the Revert, your combos ended the moment you hit a vert ramp. With it, you could string together a flatland trick, a rail, and a massive air into one continuous line. It broke the scoring system in the best way possible.
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Then THPS 4 came along and killed the timer. You remember that? Instead of two-minute heats, you just skated around an open world and talked to NPCs to start goals. It was the blueprint for what Skate and later open-world games would become. A PS4 version would have been incredible because those environments were much larger and more complex than the ones in the first two games.
Is There Still Hope?
Microsoft now owns Activision Blizzard. That is the one "wild card" in this entire story.
Phil Spencer has been vocal about loving the Activision back catalog. While the initial THPS 3 + 4 PS4 plans were killed by the Blizzard merger, there is a slim, non-zero chance that Microsoft could revive the project. However, if they do, it’s highly likely it would be an Xbox and PC exclusive, or at least a day-one Game Pass title.
The PS4 is also getting older. If a project like this were greenlit today, it would likely target the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The "cross-gen" era is winding down. So, the dream of a specific PS4 release is probably dead, even if the games eventually return in some other form.
The State of the Community
In the absence of an official game, fans have been busy. There are creators in THPS 1 + 2 who have used the "Create-A-Park" mode to meticulously recreate levels from 3 and 4. You can actually search for "Foundry" or "Airport" in the community browser. It’s not a 1:1 replacement—you don't have the specific mission objectives—but the geometry is often spot on. It's a testament to how much people still care.
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Actionable Steps for Skater Fans
Stop waiting for a surprise drop on the PlayStation Store. It’s not happening this year. If you want to experience these games with modern comforts, here is your roadmap:
- Check the 1+2 Community Parks: Open up Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 on your PS4. Go to the "Create-A-Park" section and search for "THPS3" or "THPS4." You’ll find surprisingly high-quality versions of the classic maps.
- Look into THUG Pro: If you have a computer, Google "THUG Pro." It’s a mod for Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 that includes almost every level from the entire series, including 3 and 4. It has online multiplayer and a very active player base.
- Voice your interest: It sounds cheesy, but tagging Xbox and Activision on social media actually matters now that the merger is settled. They look at engagement metrics for legacy IPs.
- Don't buy "PS4 Ports" on eBay: You might see shady listings for "THPS 3 for PS4." These are scams or bootlegs that require a jailbroken console. Don't waste your money.
The dream of an official THPS 3 + 4 PS4 release remains one of the biggest "what-ifs" of the last console generation. We have the first two games, which are masterpieces, but the trilogy (and the fourth) remains incomplete on modern hardware. For now, we skate the community maps and keep our fingers crossed for a Microsoft-led revival.