It has been four years since the fourth instalment in the Skate franchise was announced. Officially titled skate. (despite more stubborn fans still insisting on ‘Skate 4‘), the game is being developed by EA’s studio Full Circle. Updates on skate. have been delivered through Dev Blogs on YouTube, and although there is still no release date in sight, we have regular assurances that they’re “working on it.” Full Circle have been working closely alongside the community to shape skate., taking onboard feedback from playtests on PC and mobile. You can still sign-up to be in for a chance of an early hands-on with skate., and playtesting for consoles will begin later this year.
skate. Will Be Free-to-Play
skate. will be a free-to-play MMO and will be arriving on most platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Mobile. skate. will support cross play, so regardless of what device you play on you will be able to play with friends, enabling you to team-up, compete or free skate as a group. Cross progression will also be supported, which will allow you to take your profile from console to mobile. Regarding concerns of another micro-transaction infestation, Full Circle have emphasised that skate. will still be playable for those who don’t wish to spend. No gameplay elements or city areas will require pay to play, and despite no mention of in-game currency, cosmetics and other items can be unlocked as rewards for completing challenges.
Flick-it Controls and Gameplay
Building on the old mechanics of the franchise, skate.‘s goal is to keep controls familiar while adding in new tricks and variations. Flip tricks and shoves are a given, the new introductions consisting of slappy grinds, boned ollies, wallies and quick-pop ollies, all of which will allow players to develop more style while skating. Tricks are still performed with the left stick and body rotations with the right, and a new ‘streamlined’ control scheme will be available for newcomers. Transition skating has also been enhanced, and overall skate. promises smoother gameplay and animations. and the expansion of off-board movement mechanics means you can literally reach new heights.
Will skate. Have a Story Mode?
We didn’t hear too much more than “we’re working on it,” but there is at least confirmation that a narrative structure is in the works, focusing on a “familiar crew” of skateboarders rebuilding the city into a gigantic skate plaza. The four-minute teaser trailer from skate stopper lovers ‘M-Corp’, featuring comedian, actor and skateboarder Tim Robinson, shows an insight into the anti-skateboarding corporation who are likely the antagonists of skate.. While better known for his comedy skills, notably Netflix series I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, Tim spoke more about his skateboarding experience in a 2023 interview with Thrasher Magazine.
San Vansterdam
The fictional setting of San Vansterdam is influenced by the cities from Skate 2 and Skate 3 (San Vanelona and Port Carverton respectively) and real world spots. The developers want you to get lost – and I don’t mean that in a rude way. Exploring the city, finding new spots and new ways to skate them is still at the heart of the game. Objectives and challenges will be scattered around, with real-time in-game events, suggesting potential for online skate jams. An object dropper has also been implemented, which will also place items in other players games, so hopefully there is a way to prevent sabotage to DIY spots.
Customisation
It looks as though the usual skate game customisation features will be present, the player being able to changes decks, trucks and wheels. skate. will have stickers available too although it looks as though they are limited to pre-set positions. Skateboarding is for everyone, and Full Circle have embraced this with a focus on inclusion. Players can adjust their custom skater’s height and weight, and any hairstyle can be selected for any gender. This attention to diversity is mirrored in the wardrobe, as all clothing items will be unisex. Trousers – sorry, pants – will be plentiful and consist of the baggy, skinny and cuffed variety. A staple of the Skate franchise and skateboarding titles in general is the appearance of skate brands. Confirmed brands so far are Vans, Girl Skateboards and Chocolate, with more sure to appear prior to and post release. The dev blog also seemed keen to remind us that socks can be changed, so there’s that too.
You can find the full development update below.
