
Key Highlights
- Console gamers can now participate in the skate. playtest, the eagerly awaited new installment in the Skate series.
- Xbox and PlayStation users can join the playtest through the skate. Insider program.
- skate. will be free-to-play, set in the fictional San Vansterdam, with additional gameplay elements still in development.
Console players finally have the opportunity to experience skate., the much-anticipated new chapter in the beloved Skate series, through a fresh round of playtesting. Although these tests have been running since mid-2022, they were previously exclusive to the PC version. Now, Xbox and PlayStation users can sample the first Skate game in approximately 15 years.
The most recent release in the Skate franchise was Skate 3 in 2010. Despite maintaining a dedicated fan community, EA effectively put the series on hold to focus on first-person shooters, battle royale games, and live-service titles. Over the years, demand for a new Skate game persisted, with the #Skate4 movement gaining such traction that EA eventually took notice. This led to the formation of a dedicated studio to develop the next entry. Last fall, it was confirmed that skate. would enter early access in 2025, and console testing is a promising step toward meeting that timeline.
According to an announcement on skate.'s official Twitter account, Xbox and PlayStation players can now participate in the playtest by registering for the skate. Insider program. A brief video featured members of the development team responding to fan inquiries. While the clip didn't showcase specific gameplay mechanics like the enhanced replay editor, the team verified that more Black hairstyle options will be included. They also humorously addressed the playtest's original "Fall 2024" announcement date.
EA has stated that skate. will be a free-to-play live-service game, though detailed public information remains limited. What we know so far is that the skating simulation is set in San Vansterdam, a fictional city still being built, drawing inspiration from San Vanelona, Port Carverton, and real-world landscapes. A preliminary version of the game's map surfaced online in 2023, but it has likely undergone significant changes since then. Series enthusiasts can either sign up for the playtest or wait for skate. to become more widely available.
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Although early access is planned for 2025, seasoned gamers understand that development timelines often shift, as delays have become frequent in the industry. In the interim, skating fans can explore several other titles while awaiting the full release of the new Skate game.