Key Takeaways
1. Skate 4 Early Access launched on September 16, 2023, after a 15-year wait since Skate 3.
2. The game features a multiplayer city called San Vansterdam, accommodating up to 150 players per server.
3. Extensive cross-platform play allows players on various consoles and PC to skate together.
4. Skate 4 adopts a live service model with regular content updates and planned seasons, starting with Season 1 in October 2025.
5. The Early Access phase will last around six months, with a full release targeted for 2026, focusing on community feedback for ongoing development.
EA’s much-awaited skateboarding game has made its grand return with the global launch of Skate 4 Early Access. This sequel comes after a long 15-year wait following the release of Skate 3 in 2010. The free-to-play game went live on September 16 across various platforms, with staggered launch times across regions to ensure smooth server performance.
Access and Rollout
Players in North America were the first to jump into the game, with servers opening at 10:00 AM PDT and 1:00 PM EDT. The global rollout continued throughout the day, reaching European players at 6:00 PM CET and extending to Asia-Pacific regions by early September 17.
The New City Experience
The latest Skate game is set in a lively multiplayer city called San Vansterdam, which is designed to accommodate up to 150 players on each server. This new installment takes a different approach from its predecessors by emphasizing an always-online, community-focused experience, where the city changes based on player input and developer enhancements.
“We’re super excited to have everyone join us in San Vansterdam and experience the best skateboarding this franchise has ever produced,” said Mike McCartney, Executive Producer of Skate. The city boasts four unique neighborhoods—Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile, and Brickswich—each providing distinct skateable areas and challenges.
Cross-Platform Play
Full Circle, EA’s Vancouver studio responsible for reviving Skate, has introduced extensive cross-platform play. Now, players can skate together, whether they’re on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, or PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, or the EA App.
The classic Flick-It control system makes a comeback with enhancements, allowing for more accurate trick execution while keeping the physics-based gameplay that set the original trilogy apart from competitors like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Additionally, the game features improved off-board exploration, enabling players to climb and access previously unreachable areas throughout the city.
Live Service Model
Unlike previous versions, Skate 4 embraces a live service model with regular content updates planned during Early Access and beyond. Season 1 is set to launch in October 2025, featuring Halloween-themed events such as “Skate-o-Ween” and the introduction of a battle pass system called “skate.pass.”
Season 2, planned for December 2025, will introduce cooperative gameplay modes, party voice chat, and new tricks, including impossibles and enhanced handplants. The developers have laid out plans extending into 2026, with features like player-created skate parks and competitive leaderboards on the horizon.
The Early Access phase is anticipated to last around six months, with a full release aimed for 2026. This extended development period will enable Full Circle to gather community feedback while further shaping the evolving landscape of San Vansterdam.
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