When people think of skateboarding games, the first name that usually comes to mind is Tony Hawk. Still, EA’s Skate. series has stood as the closest competitor, with its Flick-It control system giving the experience its own style.
That control scheme, along with a more relaxed approach to skating, helped Skate. build a loyal following.
After years of silence, fans were excited to see the revival of the franchise with a new entry simply called Skate. But now that the game has finally launched into Early Access, many of those same fans are left feeling let down.
The last time players had a mainline Skate. game was back in 2010 with Skate 3. Fifteen years is a long time to wait, and expectations only grew higher with each passing year. Full Circle, the studio handling development, released the new title into Early Access in mid September, making it free to play across Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. The reception so far has been mixed, with reviews landing right in the middle on Steam.
A mixed rating at launch is not unusual, especially for games that arrive in Early Access. Some titles come out feeling polished while others start out small and expand later. For Skate., the main issue seems to be less about polish and more about what is missing.
Players have pointed out the absence of series staples like Story Mode, Pro Skaters, and Hall of Meat. Without these, many feel like the personality of the franchise has been stripped away. Missions are also said to lack variety, leading to a loop that feels stale after only a short time.
The developers have promised updates with new features, improvements, seasonal events, and more content as time goes on. Still, there is no clear sign that a traditional Story Mode will ever arrive, which has left some fans doubtful that Skate. will regain the charm of its earlier games.
Another sticking point is monetization. Since the game is free to play, it depends on in-game purchases. Players expected this, but several reviews complain that free customization options feel bland compared to what is locked behind payment. This has fueled criticism that the game is designed to funnel players toward spending, with some calling it nothing more than a corporate cash grab.
Not every review is negative, though. Some players say the skating itself feels good and that there is fun to be had, especially for a free entry point. One reviewer summed it up by saying that for the price of free there is entertainment here, but it is still a mixed bag.
Skate. is planned for a full release in 2026, giving Full Circle time to address community feedback and expand the game. Whether the developers can turn around the criticism remains to be seen, but the first impressions show how high expectations were after such a long wait. For now, the game sits in an awkward place, offering enough to attract players but not enough to stop frustrated fans from calling it soulless.