Full Circle's free-to-play Skate enters Early Access on in September

After a 15-year hiatus since the release of Skate 3 in 2010, which cemented itself as a cult-classic along with the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, Electronic Arts and developer Full Circle have finally confirmed the Early Access release date for the fourth installment of the franchise, titled just “Skate.”

According to an official EA press release, Skate will enter early access on September 16, 2025, as a free-to-play title on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and the EA App.

Skate 3 had sold almost 5 million copies on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in its lifetime after its release on 17 December 2010. Now the franchise is back from the dead, with cross-platform multiplayer and cross-progression in the fictional city of San Vansterdam, an open-world amalgamation of San Francisco and Amsterdam. 

The game will feature four neighborhoods, including Hedgemont, Gullcrest Market Mile, and Brickwich, each with its own neat trick spots, gaps, and skateable environments. Of course, the iconic analog-focused Flick-It System is returning, and the game runs on EA’s Frostbite engine to create what the developers describe as the best skateboarding experience in the series’ history.

Executive Producer of Skate, Mike McCartney, delved into his thoughts about the upcoming installment, “Skate is not just a return, it’s a complete evolution of the franchise, that’s built to last,” signaling at the game’s live service pivot, which will include content updates every 3 months.

McCartney further commented, “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.”

Skate has been undergoing rounds of playtesting with community feedback since as early as 2022, to fine-tune and refine off-board controls, allowing players to explore San Vansterdam without bounds. Players will also see the return of Quick Drop to place custom ramps and rails to create custom skate lines, along with the addition of Spectate and Spectaport to jump into any live session.

While the game will be available via Early Access this September, Full Circle will continue ongoing play-testing with widespread community feedback until the game exits early access for a full release, potentially in late 2026.