Man, Skate used to be the game. Back in the day it stood next to Tony Hawk and Underground as the go-to for anybody who wanted to mess around on a board without leaving the house.
It was simple, fun, and real.
Now EA is bringing it back and already it is looking more like a cash grab than a comeback. Their new blog called The Grind laid it out clear.
Players can earn some stuff with Rip Chips by doing challenges, but then they dropped the real play. A skate Pass. Seasonal drops every three months. All the same tricks Fortnite and every other live service game have been running.
That means limited time rewards, cosmetic drip locked behind a clock, and constant grinding just to keep up. It is not about skating when you want anymore.
It is about showing up when EA tells you to or you miss out. The whole thing screams treadmill gaming.
It is not pay to win, but that is not the point. Old Skate let people unlock gear just by playing and vibing.
This new one feels more like a job, and the paycheck is some skins you probably should have just had from the start. The freedom that made the series stand out looks like it is getting buried under battle passes and season resets.
The only thing keeping hope alive right now is the music. EA says it is packing a hundred tracks, mixing underground names with deeper cuts. Players can like songs, build playlists, and find music as they skate around. That actually feels like Skate.
Early access still has no real date. EA just says it is getting closer every day. Translation: keep waiting.
Until then, fans are stuck hoping the skating still feels like the old days, because everything else is looking like Fortnite with boards.