Skate returns: EA’s free-to-play Skate enters Early Access on September 16, 2025
After a 15-year wait since Skate 3 turned the series into a cult favorite alongside the Tony Hawk era, Electronic Arts and developer Full Circle are officially bringing the franchise back. The next entry, simply titled Skate, hits Early Access on September 16, 2025 as a free-to-play release.
Key details at a glance
– Release: September 16, 2025 (Early Access)
– Price: Free-to-play
– Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA App
– Multiplayer: Cross-platform play and cross-progression
– Setting: San Vansterdam, a sprawling open-world city inspired by San Francisco and Amsterdam
– Engine: EA’s Frostbite
– Updates: New content planned every three months during the live service rollout
Skate revives the series with a modern, player-first approach. Full Circle is building San Vansterdam as an open-world playground with four distinct neighborhoods—Hedgemont, Gullcrest Market Mile, Brickwich, and more—each packed with hand-crafted trick spots, gaps, rails, and lines to discover. It’s designed for flowing movement and expression, whether you’re stacking clips with friends or hunting for that perfect line solo.
The signature analog Flick-It System returns, tuned for precision and feel on modern controllers. Off-board movement has also been refined through extensive playtests to make exploring the city more natural when you’re not on the deck. Creation tools take a leap forward with Quick Drop, letting you place custom ramps and rails on the fly to build lines anywhere in the world. And with Spectate and Spectaport, you can jump into live sessions, watch friends, or instantly join the action.
Full Circle describes Skate as both a return and an evolution—honoring the series’ DNA while embracing a long-term live service roadmap. Content drops are planned every three months, bringing new spots, challenges, gear, and systems shaped in partnership with the community. That community-first philosophy has been central since early playtesting began in 2022, and it won’t stop at Early Access. The studio plans to keep iterating with player feedback until the full 1.0 launch, which is tentatively aimed for late 2026.
It’s been a long road back for a beloved series. Skate 3 moved nearly five million copies across Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 after its December 17, 2010 release, and the appetite for a new entry never faded. With crossplay, cross-progression, a massive new city, and the Flick-It System reborn on Frostbite, Skate is positioned to be the most ambitious entry yet.
If you’ve been waiting to drop back in, circle September 16, 2025. San Vansterdam is almost open.
