Tag: Skate

  • Skate Early Access: Praised Gameplay but Criticized Live-Service Issues

    Skate Early Access: Praised Gameplay but Criticized Live-Service Issues

    Key Takeaways

    1. Backlash Over Monetization: Gamers criticize the free-to-play live-service model, calling it a “soulless cash-grab” with locked cosmetics behind paywalls.

    2. Launch Day Issues: The game faced server overloads on launch day, preventing many players from accessing it after a long wait since Skate 3.

    3. Mixed Reception: With a “Mixed” rating on Steam, only 50.1% of reviews are positive, highlighting appreciation for skating mechanics but disappointment in live-service elements.

    4. Gameplay Problems: Players report physics issues, unresponsive controls, and missing trick types, alongside challenges failing to register correctly.

    5. Art Style Criticism: The game’s cartoonish art style has been criticized for lacking the gritty realism of earlier Skate titles, making the open-world environment less engaging.

    EA and Full Circle’s new Skate game, called skate., has just launched in early access on Steam. Unfortunately, it has faced a wave of backlash from gamers who are calling it a “soulless cash-grab,” particularly due to its free-to-play live-service model.

    Launch Day Hiccups

    Since its release on September 16, 2025, the game quickly attracted more than 80,000 players at the same time on Steam on its first day. This rush caused server overloads, resulting in instability and crashes, leaving many eager gamers unable to play after waiting 15 long years since Skate 3.

    Reception and Mechanics

    As for initial feedback, Skate. currently has a “Mixed” rating, with only 50.1% of the 9,210 reviews being positive according to SteamDB. Players appreciate the core skating mechanics, which are built on the enhanced Flick-It system and physics-based gameplay, praising them for their authenticity, especially during freestyle sessions.

    However, numerous negative comments arise from the game’s live-service aspects, which many feel have taken away from the game’s original appeal. There are no offline modes, no story campaigns, and no classic game modes like Hall of Meat wipeouts, S.K.A.T.E. mode, or even Death Races.

    Monetization Concerns

    Players have also voiced their concerns about EA’s monetization strategies, which encourage spending on virtual currency for customization choices, such as character outfits and branded skate decks. This practice effectively locks many beloved cosmetics behind paywalls in this free-to-play setup.

    Although the game mechanics have been recognized for their realism, the art style has faced criticism for its cartoonish and Fortnite-like appearance, which is a stark departure from the gritty realism of earlier Skate games. This shift makes the open-world city of San Vansterdam feel less engaging.

    Gameplay Issues

    Players have pointed out problems with the physics, noting instances where they unexpectedly fall off grinds or get launched forward uncontrollably. Even after trying different controllers, some analog tricks seem to lack responsiveness. Additionally, the game is missing several trick types, including Dark Slides and only offers one Lip Trick without variations.

    Many players have further complained about challenges or missions failing to register correctly, making it impossible to complete certain tasks.

    In spite of the criticism, some gamers have commended the off-board exploration system and the cross-platform play feature. It’s worth mentioning that Skate. is still in early access, with Full Circle promising a year of development before an official launch slated for around September 2026.

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  • Xbox Game Pass September Update: 6 New Games Including Hollow Knight

    Xbox Game Pass September Update: 6 New Games Including Hollow Knight

    Key Takeaways

    1. New Game Releases: Hollow Knight: Silksong and Cataclismo will launch on September 4, with Paw Patrol World on September 10, and RoadCraft on September 16.

    2. Game Pass Availability: Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available on day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, along with other new titles across all Game Pass tiers.

    3. DLC Content: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s The Order of the Giants DLC will be available on September 4, requiring separate purchase, while an Unlock Bundle for Skate 3 will be offered for Game Pass Ultimate members.

    4. Early Access for Skate: The new Skate game will enter Early Access as a free-to-play title on September 16, featuring four unique neighborhoods and ongoing updates until its full release in 2026.

    5. Games Leaving Game Pass: On September 15, titles including All You Need, Wargroove 2, and We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie will be removed from the subscription.

    Microsoft has announced the new Xbox Game Pass games for September 2025, featuring the much-awaited indie sequel Hollow Knight: Silksong, which will be available from day one on both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

    Current Lineup

    The first half of the month presents six games, as mentioned in an Xbox Blog update. One of these is I Am Your Beast, a fast-paced shooter that has been released across all Game Pass tiers. Following this, players can enjoy the action-platformer Nine Sols, also accessible through Game Pass Standard.

    Release Dates

    On September 4, gamers can finally dive into Hollow Knight: Silksong, alongside Cataclismo, a strategy builder. Younger audiences will be happy to see Paw Patrol World launching on September 10, available on all Game Pass subscription plans.

    The lineup concludes with RoadCraft, a multiplayer crafting and survival game that will launch on September 16. In this game, players will focus on building and maintaining roads in a post-apocalyptic setting.

    More Content

    In addition to these new games, Microsoft reminded Game Pass users about additional content for existing games. Notably, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s The Order of the Giants DLC is set to release on September 4. While the main game is included in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, users will need to buy The Order of the Giants DLC separately.

    For Game Pass Ultimate members, there’s also an Unlock Bundle for the classic Skate 3, which includes $21 worth of DLC packs for the Xbox 360 game ahead of the launch of Skate.

    Upcoming Skate Game

    The fourth installment, simply titled “Skate,” will be available in Early Access as a free-to-play game on September 16. Players will get to explore, skate, and create new skate lines in the open world of San Vansterdam, which consists of four unique neighborhoods. Full-Circle plans to release patches based on player feedback and will keep providing seasonal content updates until the game fully launches in 2026.

    As usual, three titles will be leaving Game Pass to make way for the new arrivals. On September 15, All You Need, the turn-based strategy game Wargroove 2, and We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie will be removed from the subscription.

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  • Full Circle’s Free Skate Game Enters Early Access This September

    Full Circle’s Free Skate Game Enters Early Access This September

    Key Takeaways

    1. Early Access Launch: “Skate” will be available for early access on September 16, 2025, and will be free-to-play on multiple platforms including PS5, Xbox Series S|X, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

    2. Game Features: The game will feature four neighborhoods with unique skate spots, the return of the Flick-It System, and will be powered by the EA Frostbite engine for enhanced gameplay.

    3. Cross-Platform Play: “Skate” will include cross-platform multiplayer and cross-progression, allowing players to enjoy the game with friends across different systems.

    4. Community Engagement: The development team is actively collecting player feedback through playtesting to improve controls and features, aiming to create a game that reflects the spirit of skateboarding.

    5. Ongoing Updates: The game will follow a live service model with content updates every three months, indicating a commitment to evolving the game post-launch.

    After a long break of 15 years since Skate 3 came out in 2010, which became a beloved game just like the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, Electronic Arts and developer Full Circle have at last revealed the Early Access launch date for the next game in the series, simply called “Skate.”

    Early Access Details

    As per an official announcement from EA, Skate will be available for early access on September 16, 2025. The game will be free-to-play and can be accessed on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PS4, Xbox One, and PC through platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA App.

    Skate 3 has sold nearly 5 million copies across Xbox 360 and PS3 since its debut on December 17, 2010. Now, the series makes a comeback with features like cross-platform multiplayer and cross-progression set in the fictional city of San Vansterdam, a mashup of San Francisco and Amsterdam.

    Game Features

    The game will include four distinct neighborhoods: Hedgemont, Gullcrest Market Mile, and Brickwich, each offering unique trick spots, gaps, and skateable areas. The beloved analog-focused Flick-It System is back, and the game is powered by EA’s Frostbite engine, which the developers claim delivers the best skateboarding experience in the franchise’s history.

    Mike McCartney, the Executive Producer of Skate, shared his insights about this new chapter, stating, “Skate isn’t just a revival; it’s a full evolution of the franchise that’s designed to endure.” He hinted at the game’s live service approach, which will bring content updates every three months.

    Community Engagement and Testing

    McCartney also mentioned, “Our aim with Skate is to embody the freedom, creative expression, and community spirit of skateboarding, and to share that with as many gamers as we can. From the very start, we’ve focused on respecting the franchise’s legacy while steering it towards an exciting new future—one crafted with the help of our players.”

    Skate has been in playtesting since as early as 2022, gathering feedback from the community to enhance off-board controls, enabling players to roam freely throughout San Vansterdam. Players will also find the return of Quick Drop, allowing them to place custom ramps and rails for unique skate lines, along with the new features Spectate and Spectaport to join any active session.

    While the game will launch in Early Access this September, Full Circle plans to continue community play-testing and feedback collection until it officially releases, which may happen in late 2026.

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  • EA Faces Criticism: Microtransactions Found in Closed Alpha

    EA Faces Criticism: Microtransactions Found in Closed Alpha

    Key Takeaways

    1. EA is known for strong monetization techniques, leading to player annoyance, especially with pay-to-win loot boxes and microtransactions.
    2. Star Wars Battlefront II faced significant backlash over its monetization, resulting in a complete revamp of its system.
    3. EA’s upcoming Skate game has introduced a currency system called “San Van Bucks” during its closed alpha for acquiring cosmetic items.
    4. Community reactions on Reddit are mixed, with some confused about monetization in early testing, while others support it due to the game being free-to-play.
    5. Players can keep any purchased San Van Bucks when the game transitions to Early Access, but all other progress will reset.

    EA has been known for its strong monetization techniques, which often leads to player annoyance. Examples include the pay-to-win loot boxes found in FIFA (now known as EA Sports FC) and the heavy reliance on microtransactions in Star Wars Battlefront II. This particular game faced such a massive backlash that its system was completely revamped. Despite this, EA persists in making in-game purchases a key part of its overall strategy.

    Criticism Over New Game

    Now, EA is under fire again for its monetization approach, this time concerning a game that hasn’t even been released yet. As reported by Insider Gaming, the upcoming Skate installment is currently in closed alpha, where a currency system called “San Van Bucks” has been introduced. This allows players to acquire cosmetic items from the Skate Store. Full Circle, the developer, states that this early test is aimed at refining the system before the game’s Early Access debut in 2025, ensuring a “positive gaming experience.” Notably, while all progress will reset before Early Access starts, any San Van Bucks purchased will remain, as long as players use the same EA account.

    Community Reaction

    The introduction of microtransactions during a closed alpha has led to intense discussions on Reddit. Many users are confused about why a payment system is operational when essential gameplay features are still being finalized. Conversely, some supporters argue that since Skate will be a free-to-play game, having a monetization method is necessary anyway, making early testing a sensible decision. Provided that purchases are just for cosmetic items, some gamers don’t see a problem with it.

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