Fans of skateboarding games rejoice! EA’s iconic Skate series, which has been absent since 2010’s Skate 3, officially makes its grand return today. The new reboot, simply titled Skate, is now available for free in early access across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
It’s important to note that this is an early access version, meaning players might encounter some bugs or unexpected quirks. Developer Full Circle has ambitious plans for the game, with future updates slated to bring new game modes, an expanded roster of tricks, competitive leaderboards, party voice chat, and numerous other enhancements.
Unlike its predecessors, which were premium releases, the new Skate adopts a free-to-play model and requires an always-online connection. EA intends to monetize the game through optional in-game microtransactions.
The original Skate debuted in 2007, followed by sequels Skate 2 in 2009 and Skate 3 in 2010, alongside the mobile spin-off Skate It in 2008. The franchise then entered a long hiatus until EA announced this new iteration in 2020.
The game transports players to the vibrant, fictional city of San Vansterdam, a world composed of four distinct neighborhoods. Full Circle promises an “ever-evolving” environment, with new areas, challenges, and music continually added throughout the early access period.
While Skate was away, Activision’s Tony Hawk series kept the skateboarding genre alive with successful titles like Pro Skater 1+2 and more recently 3+4. Other notable skateboarding games released during Skate‘s hiatus include the quirky bird-skating game SkateBird (2021) and the realistic skater simulator Session (2022).
