As we previously reported, Activision Blizzard didn't include pro skateboarder Bam Margera in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 due to unforeseen circumstances..
Hence, Margera is reportedly back in the skateboarding game franchise but it didn’t happen without a fight.
According to a claim on The Nine Club podcast via Video Games Chronicle, skate legend Tony Hawk himself stepped in and insisted that Margera be included in the game, despite resistance from Activision.
During a live stream on The Nine Club podcast, it’s been claimed that Bam was added to the game at the last minute after Hawk demanded he be included.
“Well, here’s what happened,” The Nine Club co-host Roger Bagley explained. “The game was already done. Tony called up Activision and was like ‘hey, we’re putting Bam in the thing’, and they were like ‘hey, we can’t’.
“He goes ‘no, you’re gonna do it’, and basically made them fly Bam back out there to get body-scanned and everything else, and get him back in the game.”
“So this might be news that’s not out there yet, though?” co-host Chris Roberts then asked.
“Probably,” Bagley replied.
The upcoming remake, developed by Iron Galaxy, is set to launch on July 11, 2025.
Given the popularity of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 in 2020, fans have been eagerly anticipating this next installment.
While it was initially reported that Margera wouldn’t make the cut, things took a turn after Hawk personally reached out to Activision and demanded that his longtime friend be scanned and added into the game.
This reportedly happened after Iron Galaxy had already wrapped up development, meaning they’ll have to go back in to get Margera in before release.
Margera’s exclusion didn’t sit well with fans, especially since he was a key part of the original THPS 3 and THPS 4.
His skating career, combined with his wild success on Jackass and Viva La Bam, made him a recognizable name in skateboarding and beyond.
However, his history of legal troubles and personal struggles may have played a role in why he was left out in the first place.
Over the years, Margera has made headlines for all the wrong reasons.
His public fallout with Jackass co-creator Jeff Tremaine led to legal action in 2021, when Tremaine filed a restraining order after repeated online harassment.
Margera’s struggles with addiction have also been widely documented, dating back to 2009, and in more recent years, he’s been involved in legal incidents, including an arrest in Iceland in 2013 over an unpaid rental car bill and allegations of threats and domestic violence in 2023.
Despite all this, Hawk’s insistence on getting Margera back in THPS 3 + 4 shows that their history runs deep.
The two have been linked in the skate world for decades, and while Activision may have had concerns, Hawk clearly wasn’t going to let his former teammate be erased from the franchise.
Margera isn’t the only unexpected name hitting the roster. The Digital Deluxe Edition is bringing some wild additions, including the return of Doom Slayer and the debut of Revenant, paying homage to the classic Doom Doot meme.
With Margera’s last-minute addition and some surprise guest characters, THPS 3 + 4 is shaping up to be a mix of nostalgia and unexpected twists. Whether Activision wanted him or not, Margera is back—and he’s got Tony Hawk to thank for it.