Today, Electronic Arts announced Skate was set to launch in early access next year. The fourth main installment in the extreme sports series is in development at Vancouver-based studio Full Circle and has already been tested by “tens of thousands” of PC players over the past two years. Console testing is set to begin this fall.
The last we heard from the studio was that they were making a number of changes based on feedback gathered from testers:
We’ve done a lot of work rebuilding Flick-It’s core trick control system, skateboarding. We want to make sure every trick feels fun and satisfying, while still delivering on the familiarity of previous Skate games. We’ve also improved precision and control to make learning tricks easier.
The team is also working hard to give you the tools to have fun your way, alone or with friends, anywhere in San Vansterdam. Almost everything you do in the game will earn you rewards, so you can customize your character, setup, and even unlock new objects to place and skate around San Van.
Self-expression is what skateboarding is all about, which is why we’re excited to bring as many character customization options to skateboarding as possible. Body types, hair, clothing, your skateboard setup (including stickers!) — you’ll be able to tweak and style it however you want.
What excites us most about skateboarding is that we’re building a game that can live, grow, and change with you for years to come. Everything you’ve heard about so far — the city, its story, the gear, the music, the game modes, and more — will evolve as we go from season to season.
The game will employ a free-to-play business modewill also include crossplay functionality across all platforms (PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X and mobile devices). It will be ‘always on‘, that is, a persistently connected live service game.