Following extensive playtesting, Skate will launch into early access on Sept. 16 for PC via Steam and Epic Game Store, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It will launch as a free-to-play game with cross-play and cross-progression.
First announced in 2020, Skate is the first installment of EA’s cult classic skateboarding series in 15 years. The project is being developed by Full Circle, a new studio established for the project. While we’ve gotten lots of little details about the project over years of testing, we now know exactly when we’ll be able to see what EA has been working on.
The release date arrives alongside a cheeky new trailer that plays out like a David Attenborough-narrated nature documentary. We see some peaceful shots of San Vanamsterdam, Skate‘s fictional setting, before getting a highlight reel of skate tricks and pratfalls. The brief clip gives off a physics comedy vibe as much as a skating one.
Aside from the release date, the trailer serves as a reminder that Skate is still coming to PS4 and Xbox One alongside current-gen consoles and PC. All platforms will support cross-play and cross-progression per an FAQ on Skate’s website. EA previously noted that a mobile version was in the works, but there’s no mention of it in today’s release date reveal.
Between the supported platforms and the free-to-play strategy, it looks as though EA hopes to maximize the potential audience for what has long been a cult series. It’s getting there with a radical reinvention that’s aiming to nab a bite of live-service success while retaining tentpole Skate franchise features, like a returning “flick it” system rebuilt in EA’s Frostbite engine. We’ll soon find out if that approach is enough to satisfy fans who have been asking for a new Skate game for 15 years.
Skate launches into early access on September 16 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
