Much like my sleep, I’m tossing and turning on the whole EA Skate thing day in and day out. Like most of the early 2010s, I picked up Skate 3 and did so before YouTube made it popular, finding it hilarious that the man fell and broke 12 vertebrae. The new game, however, is one that I’m torn on, but we might not be singing the tune of Ednaswap’s 1997 classic for very long anymore. Announced yesterday via a press release and an early access release date trailer, we now know when we’ll get to swear at those controls again.

“[Yesterday], Electronic Arts Inc and Full Circle announced that skate., the next chapter of the award-winning skateboarding video game franchise, will launch into Early Access on September 16 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app. skate. is free-to-download, cross-platform, and cross-progression, making it as accessible as possible for both longtime skate. franchise fans, and newcomers alike,” As the press release notes. With cross-platform and cross-progression having conditions and restrictions.

Interestingly, and I haven’t seen this brought up elsewhere, the title isn’t just Skate, it is stylized with that dot across all the promotional material. I mean, sure, at least it isn’t just the title of the original again, but stylized with the lower case S and full-stop is an odd voice. Nonetheless, skate. will be heading to early access next month and will be heading to San Vansterdam, a multiplayer open world where you can “connect – or compete – with friends online.” I couldn’t think of a worse thing to do with my time. I’d rather go to my actual skate park.

The press release goes on to assure certain fans, “At the core of skate. is the restored and improved ‘Flick-It’ System, brought back to life through the Frostbite™ Engine to deliver the best skateboarding experience we have ever offered. With unparalleled precision and control, Flick-It brings the magic of the franchise back to life for a new generation of players.” That’s what you call precision? I’ve seen high-speed escapee shopping trollies be more precise than my flicking of the right analogue stick. Nonetheless, the new skate. will see new tricks such as “wallies, slappies and firecrackers” make their debut.

Executive Producer of skate., Mike McCartney said in the press release: “skate. is not just a return, it’s a complete evolution of the franchise that’s built to last. Our goal with skate. is to capture the freedom, creative expression and community of skateboarding, and share it with as many people as possible. From day one, our priority has been to honor the legacy of the franchise while pushing it into a bold new future – one built in partnership with our players.“

Head of Creative on skate., Jeff Seamster also went on to say, “Community is the heart of skateboarding, and it’s the heart of skate.. From day one, we’ve aimed to create an open, welcoming space shaped by players. We’ve built this game alongside our community – listening, learning and evolving together. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or just dropped in, skate. is a place to express yourself, connect and grow. No gatekeepers, no barriers – just a city built for skating and a community that keeps it alive. Early Access is a huge milestone in that journey, and we’re hyped to keep growing San Vansterdam with our crew around the world.“

Honestly, there is a part of me that wants to like skate. despite the free-to-play and early access thing, but do I need to play online with people? I know, I am anti-social, and I don’t speak for everyone, but are we forgetting that time Fallout 76 released and was exclusively online with randoms and friends? I guess my point is that I’m not seeing anything that says you can just play with friends and no one else, or better still, just play with yourself. I said what I said.

Nonetheless, skate. will be releasing into early access on September 16th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One & PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA app. There is no word as of yet on when skate. will be releasing on iOS and Android.

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