New Skate Game ‘skate.’ Hits Steam with Mixed Reviews, Sparking a Community Divide

The highly anticipated reboot of the beloved Skate franchise, officially titled skate., has launched on Steam in Early Access, but its reception has been far from perfect. The game is currently sitting at a “Mixed” review score, with a significant divide emerging between long-time fans of the series and new players. While the core skateboarding mechanics are being praised, the game’s shift to a free-to-play, live-service model and its lack of content have drawn heavy criticism from the veteran community.

After years of waiting, the game’s release was met with initial excitement, with over 80,000 concurrent players on launch day. However, this early enthusiasm was quickly dampened by server issues and, more importantly, a growing chorus of negative reviews. Many players, particularly those who grew up with Skate 1, 2, and 3, feel that the new installment is a “soulless cash-grab” that has stripped away key features from the originals. This sentiment is in direct contrast to the positive feedback from new players who are enjoying the game’s physics and open-world sandbox, highlighting a clear generational and philosophical split in the fanbase.

Analyzing the Mixed Reviews: What’s Working and What Isn’t

The feedback on Steam is a mix of high praise and deep disappointment. Here’s a breakdown of the main points from user reviews:

• The Good: Core Gameplay: The one thing almost everyone seems to agree on is that the actual act of skateboarding in skate. feels great. The “Flick-It” trick system, a hallmark of the series, has been refined and is as satisfying as ever. Players are enjoying the rich physics-based gameplay, which allows for creative and “only in skate.” moments. The ability to explore the open world of San Vansterdam and find new spots is also a major plus.
• The Bad: Missing Content and Live-Service Model: This is where the majority of the negative reviews are focused. Long-time fans are frustrated by the absence of fan-favorite features like the “Hall of Meat,” “Game of S.K.A.T.E.,” and a proper story mode. The game’s live-service nature means that many cosmetic items are locked behind microtransactions and a battle pass system, which many players feel is a blatant attempt to monetize the experience rather than deliver a complete game. The world of San Vansterdam, while a good sandbox, feels “empty” to many due to the lack of missions, NPCs, and an offline mode.
• The Ugly: Technical Issues and Art Style: The game’s launch was plagued by server problems, preventing many players from getting in. While these issues have largely been resolved, they left a sour taste. Additionally, the new “Fortnite-esque” art style has been widely criticized by old-school fans, who preferred the grittier, more realistic look of the original series. The character models are often described as “soulless” and “corporate,” a direct antithesis to the counterculture vibe that skateboarding games have traditionally embraced.

Early Access and the Road Ahead

It’s important to remember that skate. is in Early Access, a point that both the developers and some positive reviewers have stressed. The “Mixed” rating could be a temporary state as the developer, Full Circle, works on adding more content and addressing player feedback. The team has released a roadmap for the game’s future, with plans to add new areas, game modes, a replay editor, and player-created parks in the coming months. Season 1, scheduled to start in late October, will introduce new seasonal events and a “Skate Pass,” further cementing the live-service nature of the title.

For now, the debate rages on. Is skate. a good game that has been misunderstood, or is it a clear example of a beloved franchise being reshaped into a free-to-play platform designed solely to generate revenue? The answer seems to depend entirely on what you’re looking for. If you’re a new player just looking for a fun skateboarding sandbox with great physics, the game is a worthwhile experience, especially since it’s free. However, if you’re a die-hard fan of the originals looking for a true sequel, you might want to wait and see what the future updates bring.