EA has just announced that skate. will launch in early access on September 16th on all available platforms. The long-awaited free-to-play sequel to the storied franchise of kickflips and street races is finally going to be playable! Yes, the words free-to-play kind of scare the heck out of me too, but if it plays anything like the original trilogy, I’m sure everyone will love it regardless.
Announced all the way back in 2020, this will be the first new entry for the series in over 15 years! I was a teenager when I last got to intentionally shatter every bone in my body and bomb hills like a mad man in a purple and yellow Spitfire shirt and Nike SBs. The block was hot, and it will be again. Developed by Full Circle, a studio created by EA specifically to helm the project, skate. has some mighty big flat-bottomed shoes to fill but hopes to serve as a total reboot for the franchise that better fits into the modern schema of the current gaming industry.
Fans have been getting drip-fed little morsels of leaks, teasers, and pre-alpha gameplay from play-testers, but the as the early access release approaches, far more information is coming to light for the public. Fans of the series, like me, are cautiously optimistic for the title, though with the current planned content model involving live-service inclusions, many of us are fearful for what may come.
With a fixed seasonal content schedule that includes timed events, exclusive cosmetics every 3 months, and regular content updates, I’m sure we’ll be seeing something akin to a “battle pass” but for Van’s, DC, Baker, Santa Cruz, Independent, and so on. Could be cool if they make it affordable and worthwhile. Regardless, this means that customization options are returning as well as over 100 songs confirmed at launch, so we’ll at least be able to shred some wood and scratch our trucks while jamming to what can only be a banger of a soundtrack.
The game has been described as an “ever-evolving online skateboarding sandbox,” set in the city of San Vansterdam, which is meant to be a huge open-world playground for multiplayer skating mayhem. They’re using Frostbite to handle the physics which is pretty cool… hopefully that means there will be some destructible environments like in Battlefield, but I’m not greedy. The iconic stick-flicking mechanic is making a return to allow skaters to showcase their precision skills at landing wild tricks, so that’s pretty gnar as far as I’m concerned, and they’re adding new tricks to the repertoire like slappies, wallies, and firecrackers to give veterans of the series something new to enjoy!
Full Circle and EA previously indicated that the game would be releasing some time in Summer of this year, but they never made clear an exact date, nor had they spoken about early access since they were already having the game privately play-tested internally. Now with the new trailer confirming that it’s coming in just a few weeks, fans are ready to strap on their knee pads and ollie into the action! At launch the game will be cross-platform as well, so players can link up with their crew on other gaming systems and PC, while also featuring cross-progression so if you feel like playing on multiple consoles and/or PC, your progress will carry over and you’ll be able to seamlessly rip a sesh wherever, whenever.
Excitement and anticipation are at an all-time high right now, and for fans like me who have waited half of our lives for a new game in the series, I just hope they don’t botch it. I’ve got a renewed faith in EA lately with the return to the formula for Battlefield 6… just not as much as I did when they were dropping consistent heaters when I was much younger. As I said, I’m remaining cautiously optimistic about skate. Regardless of my nostalgia-driven desires, below I have included a Q&A with the devs to answer any further pressing questions you may have about the upcoming game!
Why Early Access?
“We have an ambitious vision for skate.: an ever-growing, ever-evolving skateboarding sandbox that expands over time. We’ve always known this game needed to be built in partnership with our players. We’ve been doing that through the last 3 years of playtesting – and we want to continue that same collaboration with our players in this next phase.
Our Early Access launch will be a starting point from which new features, improvements, live events, and seasonal content will be added over time.”
Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?
“We don’t have a fixed timeline to officially exit Early Access, as the game will evolve, grow, and improve based on player feedback. However, we expect to move towards a “full” release approximately a year out from the start of Early Access but we don’t know for certain at this time.”
How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?
“The Early Access launch features what we consider to be the essentials of skate. including the Flick-It trick system from previous games which we’ve refined for modern players. There will also be tons of content to experience with other players in San Vansterdam.
Our plan is that the “full” version will be an evolution of Early Access, with added challenges, features, live events, and gameplay improvements based on player feedback.”
What is the current state of the Early Access version?
“skate.’s large-scale, open world city is a dedicated skateboarding destination with 150 players per server and cross platform play and progression. You can play with friends to find skateboarding spots around every corner [many in unexpected places]. The game has missions, skill-building challenges, and live seasonal events. You have plenty of options to customize your character and decks, including partnerships with exciting real world brands.
The beloved Flick-It trick system from previous Skate games is significantly improved, giving players the depth of control and finesse to pull off incredible moves with style. Climbing and offboard controls help players traverse the world to find and conquer the city’s best spots. Players can modify and leave their mark on the world using our in-world editor to drop ramps, rails, and more in their favorite locations. In the world of San Vansterdam, change is constant, so players will see the city – along with live events and other in-game activities – transform meaningfully over time.”
Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?
“skate. will be available for free in Early Access and beyond.”
How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?
“We have always been committed to player-led development, and thousands of skaters have already played a central role in shaping the game’s development. Future development, during Early Access and after, will be informed by what the skateboarders from San Vansterdam love to do, and the feedback they provide.
Through our official Discord and other forums, we actively solicit feedback, from which we make gameplay adjustments, triage bugs, and address other player requests. We are providing the community with a clear view of what’s ahead through developer Q&As, blogs, and upcoming roadmaps.”
