After over a decade since the last Skate game was released, fans of the franchise have been eagerly anticipating a new entry. A recent reveal at Summer Game Fest confirmed that a new Skate game is in the works, despite the long wait. The trailer for the game, simply titled Skate, teased some gameplay footage of players skating through the streets of the fictional city of San Vansterdam, showcasing iconic skate fixtures like half pipes and railings. The game is set to enter console playtesting for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in fall 2024, marking a significant step towards its eventual release.
Full Circle, the developers behind Skate, have announced that the game will follow a free-to-play model with cosmetic microtransactions. Additionally, Skate will serve as a live-service platform for future Skate experiences to be built upon, indicating that the game will have ongoing support and updates post-launch. Previous showcases of the game have featured early “pre-pre-pre-alpha” footage, but the current build is said to be much closer to a final product. While an official release date has yet to be confirmed, the progress made on the game suggests that it is moving steadily towards completion.
The announcement of a new Skate game has reignited interest in the franchise among fans, who have been eagerly anticipating a new entry for years. The decision to make the game free-to-play with cosmetic microtransactions indicates a shift in the monetization strategy for the franchise, aligning with current trends in the gaming industry. The live-service platform approach suggests that Skate will have a strong focus on ongoing support and updates, providing players with a continuously evolving experience.
The trailer for Skate showcased some familiar gameplay elements from previous entries in the series, such as street skating in urban environments and performing tricks on various obstacles. The setting of San Vansterdam, a fictional city, offers a fresh backdrop for players to explore and skate through, with plenty of opportunities for creative exploration. The decision to focus on console playtesting for next-generation systems like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S indicates that the developers are aiming to leverage the capabilities of these platforms to deliver a high-quality skateboarding experience.
As fans eagerly await more news and updates on Skate, the current state of the game seems to be progressing well towards a final release. While specifics like an official release date are still pending, the fact that the game is now in a playable state for console playtesting bodes well for its eventual launch. With Full Circle at the helm of development, the future of the Skate franchise looks promising, with the potential for the game to be a successful revival of the beloved skateboarding series.
