EA is picking up the left-behind Skate series and bringing it to the current generation of consoles. With the sport’s rise in popularity worldwide — including its recent addition to the Olympics — it is a perfect time to make a blockbuster skateboarding game. 

As a skater whose teenaged years were defined by the Skate series (yep, I got every iteration on its release day), I couldn’t be more excited about the new EA Skate. I have reservations about how the game will actually play when it finally releases, but that topic is best kept for another article. 

Today, we are looking at everything we know so far about the new EA Skate game. Full Circle, the game’s developer, has been pretty transparent about its approach to the new game while also keeping a few secrets. So, let’s lay out everything that has been confirmed about EA Skate, and tackle a few speculations as well. 

Release Information

Release Date 

Playtesting is currently live for EA Skate. If anyone is interested on getting involved, they can simply register here for a chance to get invited to the current round of playtesting. 

We also know that Early Access will come to consoles soon, so don’t worry if you don’t get invited to playtesting. We don’t have any solid answers regarding the full game’s release date, but we do expect EA Skate to come out sometime this year. 

Pricing 

Arguably the biggest news we have from EA Skate is that it will be a free-to-play game, a first for both the series and the extreme sports genre as a whole. This is great news for anyone who would rather not fork out money for yet another game.

Dedicated players like me are slightly wary of this approach, however. We are left to wonder what elements will be hidden behind a paywall, and how far the monetization will go. Regardless, a free-to-play game is a welcome addition, and it will be a great way to get people interested in the sport. 

Similar to Fortnite, it will likely feature a “Season Pass” of some sort and a wide range of purchase options and collaborations. 

Not Pay-To-Win 

In an interview, Full Circle mentioned that the game will “not be pay-to-win” and will not lock map areas behind a paywall, nor will the game contain paid loot boxes or provide gameplay advantages. This is a huge relief for fans like me who are worried about how the progressive gameplay will be. 

So, it looks like all paid items will be purely cosmetic. I can imagine we will see other elements at different points. But, nothing has been announced yet to signify this. 

Platforms 

If you’re a PlayStation 5 player like me, this will be the first EA Skate game you can play on consoles since the PS3. Xbox Series X|S players have had it easy in this regard since Skate 3 is backwards compatible on the platform.

So far, EA has confirmed that Skate will be released on PlayStation and Xbox and, for the first time ever, the PC. Playtests are currently taking place on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. So, we imagine the game will be available on all of these platforms. 

Additionally, it looks like EA Skate will be available on mobile devices, which is another first for the series. EA has mentioned, “The mobile playtest is on pause for this phase of testing, but it is still in development and part of our future plans for the game. We’ll have more details to share in the future.” 

I’m really excited about the mobile element, as the option to game on the go is always beneficial. I do have my doubts about how playable this game will be on a mobile device, but there could be some creative ways to approach this. Either way, it is great to have the option. 

Gameplay Format

The main difference between this game and its predecessors is that EA Skate will be an online-only game. This is the only way they can make the game available as a free-to-play title. 

We will likely be loaded into an open-world online lobby when launching the game. It’s a really cool idea, as it will make the city feel like a real social hub, similar to Riders Republic. Previously, we only had NPC pros and buddies skate past us every now and then. 

Cross-Play And Cross-Progression

Cross-play is also confirmed for the latest EA Skate game. Online-based games need this feature to provide a good experience for the players, including the ability to play with friends who own different consoles and to properly populate lobbies, etc. 

Cross-progression is also confirmed. This means that if you download the mobile version, you will be able to log into your Skate account to continue with your gameplay.

Title Longevity 

Full Circle have announced that the reason the game is called EA Skate instead of Skate 4 is because this will be the last iteration of the Skate series. Instead of new games, they will continue to develop this game in real-time. 

I am excited by this approach, but it also worries me that if the game crashes, they will take down the servers. In any case, I would actually rather pay for the game and ensure I can play it for years to come. 

Background

Location 

EA Skate will take place in San Vansterdam, a fictitious city that takes inspiration from previous cities featured in the franchise: San Vanelona and Port Carverton.

Instead of DLCs adding areas as the game’s life cycle progresses, the in-game city will change and grow over time. This might work similar to Fortnite’s map, but I don’t think the changes will be as drastic in Skate. 

Story 

There is no information about the story in EA Skate. What we do know is that the story will center around a “familiar crew of fun-seeking skaters” (Fabio return please). The story will follow the crew as they take over the city. 

An antagonist has been revealed: M-Corp, a resurfacing of the Mongocorp security company from Skate 2. In the teaser video, we find out that M-Corp has ruined the city from its relentless growth-at-all-costs approach. M-Corp also suggests “Knob Day,” a call for citizens of San Vansterdam to attach knobs to popular skate spots. This may be similar to the capped rails and ledges in Skate 2. 

All we know for now is that we will help to rebuild and create a skateable city that everyone can enjoy. 

Seasonal Approach

When the Full Circle team talks about how they want the game to “live, grow, and evolve with you,” they mention that the game will have a seasonal approach. This is to ensure that the game is always exciting and relevant, but it also opens doors for potentially ruining fan-favorite game modes, spots, and even songs in the game.

New Features 

New Tricks 

Skate has had great progression when it comes to adding new tricks in games. And with 15 years since the last release, we’re going to see some fresh ways to make the game more realistic. 

Here is a list of new tricks that EA Skate has already announced that are coming to the game: 
– Slappies
– Boned ollies
– Quick-pop ollies
– Wallies
– More powerslide options
– Enhanced transition skating
– Pre-wind spins
– Roll-ins
– Grind bump-outs
– Smoother and slower flip tricks 

I’m sure we will see a range of more moves added to the game. And, from the Insider Playtest Highlights videos, we can see how people use these in creative and fun ways. 

EA Skate has never needed new tricks, thanks to the simplicity and style of skating it features. However, adding more options is always welcome, as creativity is key in the skate community. 

Flick-It Controls 

The revolutionary Flick-It system is back, and because it is such a hit, there doesn’t seem to be any drastic changes to this control system. 

Full Circle has mentioned small upgrades to this system to improve accuracy and control. There will also be some features to help you learn these controls, which is great for beginners as I remember it having a learning curve to get comfortable. 

Enhanced Movement 

We all remember how bad walking was in Skate 2 (you couldn’t even get off the board in Skate 1). This was improved in Skate 3, but it was still not excellent. 

From recently released videos, we can see that movement off the board looks incredible. It looks much smoother, and there is even more detail in the shoelaces and hoodie strings movement. 

The biggest development comes from the addition of climbing. Hidden spots have been a feature since the first game. Now, the devs are teasing certain spots that are only accessible by climbing. I love this as it could lead to some spots that are well and truly hidden around the map. Plus, the added feeling of urban exploration ties well into skate culture. 

We will also see more game modes that revolve around these movements, like races off the board. I’m positive we will see game modes like the competitive “Hall of Meat,” but hopefully a bit more ironed out. 

Enhanced Gestures 

Skate 2 introduced gestures into the game, but they were pretty bad, much like the movement off the board. 

To coincide with online and collaborative play, EA Skate has fully revamped the way we can react and communicate with other players. This “Expressive Gesture” system should be a fun way to make us feel more connected to the game. 

Quick Drop 

One of the most exciting features in EA Skate is the ability to interact with the city by placing items wherever you like. Skate 3 had this feature, but now that it will be in an online environment, it means you can come across a random player creating their own spots. 

Features like this allow for more spontaneity, which brings replay value to the Skate franchise. 

Customization 

Like other Skate games, character customization will be a huge part of this game. EA has announced that a much wider range of body types, heights, hairstyles, etc. will be available to make the game as inclusive as possible. Stickers will also now be in the game, allowing you to truly customize your set-up to the finest degree.

I assume the store will be much bigger, constantly evolving, and adding time-conscious and special items. We already know that you will be able to customize your character and your board. But there will also be new ramps and items you can unlock to use with the Quick Drop feature. 

Multiplayer 

Playing With Friends 

EA Skate showcases that this game thrives on multiplayer. It has been extensively testing this function, allowing for playtesters to invite their friends into sessions. So hopefully, this translates to a more seamless online experience. 

For modern games, especially on an EA budget, this should be easy to achieve. We are hoping for quick speeds like Fortnite, rather than the length of time it takes to join a GTA 5 lobby. 

It even looks like we can enter specific challenges with friends. This is a cool approach that hasn’t been in Skate games before. 

Throwdowns 

Throwdowns seem to be a custom way to challenge friends on the fly inside the game. I assume this will allow you to select an area and certain parameters, such as highest score, etc., to try and one-up your friends. 

Honestly, small features like this make me so excited about this game. Part of the fun of the other games was skating spots with friends — even in the same room passing the controller — to nail the best trick. Now, there will be a way to make it official. It’s too bad style can’t be measured, though… 

Pop-Up Activities 

Pop-Up Activities will occur across the map that you can engage with friends, other players, or on your own. These will be limited-time events and will add to the casual cruising, rather than main objectives in the game. 

I expect these will be similar to Throwdown challenges but with many more options and different game modes.