The latest Skate game is finally here, but its Steam reviews are mixed so far. It's been a long wait for the skateboarding title, with the last game in the series coming out in 2010 and this newest one just now launching five years after its announcement. Despite all the hype EA's Skate had behind it, it hasn't managed to impress everyone on the first day of early access.
In the summer of 2025, Skate broke an EA record by drawing over one million people to sign up for its closed playtest, the most in company history. The influx of players was understandable, too, given the decade-plus since the last game and the recent skateboarding nostalgia wave that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 helped usher in. However, things have not gone quite as smoothly for the title after launching.
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Skate's Microtransactions and Server Issues Lead to Mixed Steam Reviews
At the time of writing, Skate is currently sitting at a "Mixed" rating on Steam from over 7,000 reviews. Considering Skate's early access started on September 16, there is still plenty of time for more users to share their opinions and the overall score to change, but it's an uneasy start for the long-awaited title. Much of the negative feedback centers around a few common complaints, namely, widespread server issues, discontent over the game's microtransactions, and missing modes and features from previous games in the series.
Several users said Skate feels "soulless," with a heavy emphasis on micotransactions and minimal free content making it feel like it's more focused on making money than living up to the series' legacy. EA implemented microtransactions in Skate's closed alpha, so this facet was not a surprise, but the way it comes across in-game has rubbed some players the wrong way. At the same time, other reviewers say that they don't mind it, saying the gameplay is fun enough for them to enjoy the free-to-play title without getting annoyed by optional purchases.
Another common talking point was Skate's ongoing server issues, which have left some players facing long wait times and struggling to get online. Notably, the game lacks an offline version, so users can't avoid these problems by playing solo, which several of the negative reviews called on EA to address. Not everyone seems to be experiencing the same connectivity challenges, though, as the over 3,000 positive reviews attest to. Skate is still in early access, so changes will undoubtedly come before the game moves on to Version 1.0, and how those adjustments reflect in the fanbase's opinions is uncertain for now.
- Released
- September 16, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Crude Humor, Lyrics, Mild Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Full Circle
- Publisher(s)
- EA
- Engine
- Frostbite
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sports, MMO, Open-World
