Everything you need to know about EA's 'skate.' game

Skate finally returns after a long hiatus as skate. (previously known as Skate 4). EA confirmed a continuation of this dormant skateboarding game franchise during its EA Play 2020 presentation. EA then appointed a dedicated developer for it in January 2021 and released a teaser for it in July 2021. This classic Sony skating series rivaled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in its heyday but has been dormant since Skate 3 came out in 2010. Skateboarding games are making a comeback thanks to indie games like Session, Skater XL, and the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 remake. Now, skate. is riding that wave like it's a half-pipe. Here’s what we know so far about EA’s live service skateboarding game.

When will skate. be released?

As per the latest developer update, skate. will launch “when it’s ready.” Dan McCulloch, the General Manager of Full Circle, said that they want as much feedback as possible from its testers and will only release the game once it “feels right” to them.

So, yeah. It doesn’t have a straight release date or a release window yet. The only other lead we have is from the EA Q3 2022 earnings call, where CEO Andrew Wilson apparently said it was “coming soon.” In other words, it’s most likely coming in 2023 or later.

What platforms does skate. support?

skate. will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As per the latest developer update, this will include cross-play and cross-progression between platforms.

Is skate. a free-to-play game?

Yes, skate. is free-to-play. That’s also part of the reason developers are hyper-focused on getting it just right. It’s going to be a live service title, which is a first for the series. Developers also highlighted that there wouldn’t be any pay-to-win features or DLC locked behind a paywall. There doesn’t look like there’s anything you can buy, so it’s as free as it comes.

Is there a skate. trailer?

Yes, there is! It serves more as an update on the game’s development than any actual gameplay or cinematic trailer. We see a bunch of Skate community members react to the game, as well as some footage of extremely basic in-development builds and the team’s motion capture process.

Creative Director Cuz Perry and Game Director Deran Chung confirm that EA is returning to the Skate franchise and thank the fans for their support.

"We've been waiting years to make the right game at the right time with the right idea, and we're really pleased to say that we're here," Chung said. While they both affirm that the game is in very early development, they thank Skate fans as Perry says they "commented this game into existence."

Why is the Skate series important?

EA's Skate series is known for being the main competitor to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater but stands out thanks to its unique control scheme and style. The Skate series is known for its "flick it" control scheme, where players use the right stick and the game's physics system to pull off a variety of different tricks naturally.

It's tougher than the Pro Skater games but can feel more satisfying at its best. Later games in the series featured large open worlds and even an in-game video editor where players could record, edit, and upload their best tricks.

This could all definitely be adapting for a modern, social media-driven society. EA seems specifically keen on letting players share their creations, stating in a January 27 press release that the new Skate will "redefine the way gamers create content that can be shared with the Skate community."

Who is the skate. developer?

On January 27, 2021, EA confirmed that it had created a new development team to work on the next Skate game. The developer is called Full Circle and is based in Vancouver alongside EA Sports and a Respawn Entertainment support studio. This team is solely focused on working on the next Skate game and actively hiring, suggesting that the game and team are still in the early stages of formation.

Full Circle's GM is Daniel McCulloch, who is best known for previously being in charge of Xbox Live at Microsoft. He stressed that he's looking forward to connecting players not just with the game but with its development as well.

"The fans wished Skate back into existence, and we want them to feel involved in the process from development to game launch and beyond," he said. "We’re all about having fun and making great games that people want to play with their friends."

skate. is currently in development at Full Circle.