What's up, gamers? How's everything going? Do you guys remember a good while back a game called Skate 3 that came out during the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 era? Well, back then it seems like it didn't catch on as much as expected nor could it compete against other games and the same gaming era itself that was leaning toward very different niches. However, Skate was never a bad game. If you play it, you'll see that the skateboarding dynamics are very well done, and everything about how it presents itself is extremely well made. Now, many years later for this 2025, EA has relaunched the game under the same name "SKATE" but with a very different concept. First of all, it's FREE TO PLAY—yes, you have to see it to believe it, a FREE game from EA. Second, it's online, completely open world, meaning you're skating with a ton of people while also completing missions all over the map.
The Return of the Flick-It Controls
In terms of game mechanics, it's practically the same but a bit more modern. However, if you got to play Skate 3, you'll feel right at home, since it's practically the same just online. This game, unlike Tony Hawk, has a very particular way of doing tricks, very much in the style of fighting game combos with the joysticks rather than pressing action buttons like in Tony Hawk. That's what they call the "Flick-It" system, and let me tell you, it's back and better than ever. The development team at Full Circle, including Jon Lawlor who was part of the original Skate 1 crew, worked tirelessly to bring this system back to life in the Frostbite engine.
The Flick-It controls work by using the left stick to steer and the right stick to perform flip tricks and board adjustments. Flick the right stick just right and you'll ollie, kickflip, pop-shuvit, laserflip, and more. Use the right and left triggers to grab with the corresponding hand. It's intuitive once you get the hang of it, and it truly captures the essence of skateboarding. They've even added three control options: Streamlined for newcomers to get a feel for Flick-It controls, Classic for the OG veterans who played from Skate 1 through Skate 3, and Experienced for the pros who want maximum customization. The game even has a comprehensive guide called Skatepedia that covers everything possible in the game, from basic kickflips to varial heelflips and laserflips—the list keeps going.
Welcome to San Vansterdam
The game is set in San Vansterdam, which is the sister city of the iconic San Vanelona from the first two Skate games. San Vansterdam is made up of four neighborhoods, each with their own unique flair: Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile, and Brickswich. Each area offers its own distinct vibe and challenges, making the city a huge playground for skaters. This is an ever-evolving world that will continue to grow over time—you'll see new skateable areas, seasonal events, challenges, brand partners, music, and more pop up throughout Early Access and beyond.
What really sets this game apart is that it's a massive multiplayer experience with up to 150 players per server. You're literally skating in a living, breathing city with other skaters around you. Whether you're on a solo mission or cruising around with friends, you'll find plenty of spots to skate. And if you can't find the perfect spot? Get creative with Quick Drop and toss down a ramp, rail, or one of their more offbeat options to shape new spots. It's basically a skateboarding sandbox where your imagination is the limit.
Graphics and Performance
Graphically, this game is very, very good. It's currently pretty well optimized—it's an Early Access game, but I didn't encounter any lag or anything that prevented me from playing it at high performance in 60 FPS at 1080p, so for the moment the game runs without any problems. Rebuilt on Frostbite, the game looks tremendously good despite not being new since it launched in Early Access on September 16, 2025. The fire, the destruction of the landscape, the details in the environment—everything is brutal, truly excellent. I spent a while looking closely at the scenery just appreciating how well everything is put together.
The character models look realistic, and the animations are smooth. Watching your character perform tricks feels satisfying, and the physics-based gameplay provides those "only in skate" moments that veterans of the series will remember fondly. The game also features a dynamic soundtrack that's alive just like San Vansterdam itself—everything from Denzel Curry to Earth, Wind & Fire and Little Simz. The soundtrack will continue to evolve in Early Access and beyond, which is a nice touch that keeps the experience fresh.
Game Dynamics and Progression
In terms of game dynamics, it's simple: you're around the city doing missions, skating, leveling up your experience, playing, doing gaps, sharing with others, buying different outfits in the store, raising your reputation in the sectors, and so on. It's a very RPG-like dynamic. The game introduces you in a timeless way, first leading you to the central conflict and then gradually putting the pieces together in the midst of the adventure. You'll be completing challenges to build your reputation, discovering hidden skate spots, and participating in seasonal events.
I haven't played the game more than about five hours, so I still have a lot to experiment with and see how it evolves. The career structure is up to you—after completing the first missions, most challenges in each category open up. The goal is to continue advancing through the city, unlocking new areas, completing objectives, and building your skater's reputation. Throughout Early Access, the game will continue to evolve, grow, and add new content, including new skateable areas, challenges, events, brand partners, cosmetics, and music with each season.
Seasons and Live Content
Season 1 kicked off in October, bringing two seasonal events, a skate.Pass for more rewards, updates, and more. Seasons 2 and 3 will deliver key player-requested features like party voice chat, replay editor improvements, new character customization options, leaderboards, and new tricks like Impossibles and Darkslides. The developers at Full Circle have made it clear that community feedback is at the heart of skateboarding, and it's the heart of skate. From day one, they've aimed to create an open, welcoming space shaped by players.
Mike McCartney, Executive Producer of skate, said they're thrilled to welcome everyone to San Vansterdam and the best skateboarding the franchise has ever delivered. They've focused on perfecting the core skateboarding experience—capturing the thrill of discovery, individual creativity, and the satisfaction of finally landing that insane trick. Early Access isn't a regular launch; it's an invitation to help shape the game's future as they continue to build and push the boundaries of what this game can be.
The Good, The Bad, and The Community
Now, it hasn't all been smooth sailing. The developers acknowledged that things have not gone as smoothly for some players as they would have liked. A lot more players—we're talking millions—joined in the first few weeks than they expected, and with that came bugs, glitches, progression locks, and performance issues. To their credit, Full Circle has been transparent about these issues and has been actively working to fix them. They even gave everyone in the game 2000 Tix and 500 SVBs as an apology for the rough launch.
The game has received mixed reviews so far. While many players praise the mission system and the improved Flick-It controls, some have criticized elements like dialogue and certain design choices. IGN gave it a 4 out of 10, though the game was nominated for Best Early Access Game at the Golden Joystick Awards 2025. Steam reviews show about 65% positive overall, with recent reviews at 81% positive, suggesting that the game has been improving over time.
One controversial decision that has drawn criticism is that the game is always online with no offline mode. Full Circle stated that this was necessary to deliver on their vision of a skateboarding world, but some players and outlets like PC Gamer and Rock Paper Shotgun have compared it to The Crew, which had its servers shut down in 2024, rendering the game unplayable. It's a valid concern, but for now, the game is alive and thriving with a massive community.
Customization and Monetization
The game features microtransactions in the form of the digital currency "San Van Bucks" (SVB) and Tix that you can use to buy in-game items. According to Full Circle, they added microtransactions early on to ensure a positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store. EA has stated that the game will not feature any loot boxes, pay-to-win gameplay elements, or paywalled locations, which is reassuring. You have plenty of options to customize your character and decks, including partnerships with exciting real-world brands.
Throughout your journey, you'll be able to collect cosmetics, customize your skater's appearance, and personalize your skateboard. The customization plays a significant role in making your skater truly yours. Whether you want to rock classic skate gear or go for something more outlandish, the options are there. As the seasons progress, more customization options will be added, giving you even more ways to express yourself.
Cross-Platform Play
One of the best features of this game is that it's fully cross-platform with cross-progression support across PC (via Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA App), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Mobile platforms for Android and iOS are planned to follow later. This means you can skate with your friends no matter what platform they're on, and your progress carries over wherever you play. It's as accessible as possible for both longtime franchise fans and newcomers alike.
Whether you're fresh on a board or a seasoned vet, you can tweak your on-board, off-board, and camera options to skate just the way you want. The game truly respects that everyone has their own style and preferences when it comes to skateboarding games.
What to expect?
So, I hope that if it focuses on this, it could be a good game with a different proposition to have fun online. The game has tremendous potential to be something special. The core skateboarding mechanics are solid, the world is expansive and beautiful, and the community aspect adds a layer of social interaction that previous Skate games lacked. Yes, there are bugs and issues that need to be ironed out, but that's what Early Access is for. The developers have been transparent about the problems and are actively working to improve the player experience. The fact that EA has made this free-to-play is significant. It removes the barrier to entry and allows anyone who's curious about the game to jump in and try it. If you loved Skate 3 back in the day, this is essentially that experience but modernized and brought into an online multiplayer setting. The Flick-It controls feel just as satisfying as they did over a decade ago, maybe even better with the improvements Full Circle has made. I'm genuinely excited to continue playing and seeing how San Vansterdam evolves over the coming months. With new seasons bringing fresh content, new tricks being added like Impossibles and Darkslides, and community feedback shaping the game's direction, there's a lot to look forward to. This could truly be the skateboarding game that brings the community together in a way we haven't seen before.
So, hey gamers! If you decide to download this game, I'll be playing with my EA account which is VenapGames. Feel free to add me and let's skate together through San Vansterdam. Whether you're looking to compete in challenges, discover hidden spots, or just cruise around and vibe with the community, there's something for everyone. Let me know if you've played or would like to play this game, and tell me what you think about this new evolution of the Skate franchise. See you in a future post, and remember—San Vansterdam is waiting for you!
I would say there's a bit of a difference between this and the controversy surrounding The Crew. The Crew was a game players paid for, that's what drew the critcism when Ubisoft announced it was shutting the servers down. Since this is an F2P I'd say it's a little bit more forgiving.
IIRC though the Stop Killing Games Movement had something in it about F2P games that offer season passes. Maybe that's the comparision those "journo" sites are thinking of.
I never played Skate myself but my cousin loved the hell out of that game!