When the roster for the highly anticipated Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remaster was initially unveiled, a notable omission raised eyebrows among fans: Bam Margera. A prominent figure synonymous with the *Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater* franchise, having featured in multiple installments including the original *THPS 3*, his absence from the lineup felt conspicuous, to say the least.
However, in a turn of events that unfolded seemingly at the eleventh hour, Margera was indeed added to the game. The story behind this late inclusion, as revealed by Margera himself in a recent interview, wasn`t the result of lengthy negotiations or a pre-planned corporate maneuver. Instead, it stemmed from a surprisingly simple and rather serendipitous encounter.
Margera recounted that his return to the virtual skateboard world was catalyzed by a chance meeting with the legendary Tony Hawk in Los Angeles. At the time of this meeting, communication between the two skaters had been sparse for about a year, a period during which Margera acknowledges he “wasn`t doing too good.”
Following a phone call, Margera received an invitation to visit Hawk`s private skate park, known as the Hawk`s Nest. It was here that the seemingly casual visit transformed into an impromptu demonstration of personal progress. Margera, prepared for a skate session, joined Hawk, and their interaction on the half-pipe reportedly involved ollieing over each other. Hawk`s reaction was immediate and telling: observing Margera`s performance and physical condition, he exclaimed, “What is going on? You are back.”
Margera credits this positive turnaround in his physical health largely to his recent marriage to a stretch coach, who has significantly aided his recovery and allowed him to return to skateboarding full-time. Hawk was reportedly “pretty blown away” by this visible improvement.
It was this personal witness to Margera`s comeback that, according to Margera, “really provoked him [Hawk] to make a call to Activision.” Despite tight deadlines and the late stage of development, Hawk leveraged his influence to see what possibilities existed for including Margera in the final game roster. This single, chance visit, fueled by personal progress and a rekindled connection, proved to be the decisive factor.
Bam Margera now joins a diverse roster in Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4, featuring both returning veterans like Bob Burnquist and Tony Hawk, alongside new-era pros such as Zion Wright and Margie Didal. The game also includes some famously unexpected guest skaters, including the **Doom Slayer** and **Michelangelo** from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, placing Margera`s re-entry into a roster that isn`t afraid to embrace the eclectic.
Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is currently available for play on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Ellis Thorne