Skate 4 early access goes live worldwide after 15-year hiatus

EA's long-anticipated skateboarding franchise has returned with the global launch of Skate 4 Early Access. The much-anticipated sequel comes after a 15-year drought that began after Skate 3's release in 2010. The free-to-play title went live on September 16 across multiple platforms, featuring staggered regional rollout times to ensure smooth server integration.

Players in North America accessed the game first, with servers opening at 10:00 AM PDT and 1:00 PM EDT. The rollout continued globally throughout the day, reaching European players at 6:00 PM CET and extending to Asia-Pacific regions by early September 17.

Skate 4 drops you in San Vansterdam

The new Skate unfolds in San Vansterdam, which is a vibrant multiplayer city designed to support up to 150 players per server. Unlike previous entries in the franchise, this iteration embraces an always-online, community-driven approach where the city evolves based on player feedback and developer updates.

"We're thrilled to welcome everyone to San Vansterdam and the best skateboarding the franchise has ever delivered," said Mike McCartney, Executive Producer of Skate. The city features four distinct neighborhoods - Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile, and Brickswich - each offering unique skateable terrain and challenges. 

Skate 4 offers cross-platform integration and enhanced controls

Full Circle, EA's Vancouver-based studio working on reviving Skate, has implemented comprehensive cross-platform functionality. Players can now skate together regardless of whether they're on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, or PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, or EA App.

The signature Flick-It control system returns with improvements, offering more precise trick execution while maintaining the physics-based gameplay that distinguished the original trilogy from competitors like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The game also introduces enhanced off-board exploration, allowing players to climb and reach previously inaccessible spots throughout the city.

The sequel has a live service model and future content

Unlike its predecessors, Skate 4 adopts a live service approach with regular content drops planned throughout Early Access and beyond. Season 1 launches in October 2025, featuring Halloween-themed events like "Skate-o-Ween" and the introduction of a battle pass system called "skate.pass".

The season 2, which is scheduled for December 2025, will add cooperative gameplay modes, party voice chat, and new tricks, including impossibles and improved handplants. The developers have outlined plans extending into 2026, with player-created skate parks and competitive leaderboards among the promised features.

The Early Access period is expected to last approximately six months, with the full release targeted for 2026. This extended development window will allow Full Circle to incorporate community feedback while building out San Vansterdam's evolving landscape.