EA’s Skate is trying to recover from a rough early access debut with Season 1, launching October 7 across all platforms. The update brings over 200 cosmetic items, two seasonal events including Skate-o-Ween, and the debut of the Skate Pass battle pass system. After connection issues and complaints about repetitive gameplay plagued the September 16 launch, Full Circle is betting fresh content will keep players grinding in San Vansterdam.
What Season 1 Actually Includes
The Season 1 trailer shows off new skate spots scattered throughout San Vansterdam alongside 40 weekly challenges designed to keep players coming back. The seasonal events, Skate-o-Ween and 7-Ply Maple Harvest, will add themed content and exclusive rewards during their respective windows. Community Parks are getting updates, meaning player-created courses will evolve with new objects and layouts as the season progresses.
Music lovers get fresh tracks added to the in-game soundtrack, and branded gear from real skateboarding companies expands the customization options beyond generic t-shirts and deck designs. The variety is there, but whether any of it addresses the core gameplay complaints from early access remains to be seen. Over 80 total rewards unlock through progression, though this first season runs shorter than planned since Season 2 kicks off in December.
How the Skate Pass Works
EA borrowed the Helldivers 2 Warbond model for their battle pass system. Players earn Tix currency through gameplay and spend it to unlock rewards on both free and premium tracks. The free track includes badges, emotes, outfits, and other cosmetics without spending real money. Premium Pass buyers get access to exclusive items, but unlike traditional battle passes, any San Van Bucks earned can roll over to purchase future passes.
The system starts with 80 items in Season 1, but Full Circle plans to expand to 100 items per season starting with Season 2. That shorter initial season means players won’t grind as long before new content arrives, which makes sense given the rocky reception. Getting people hooked with faster rotations beats stretching mediocre content across months while the player base bleeds out.
Free-to-Play With Catches
Skate launched as a free-to-play live service game, a dramatic departure from the premium model that defined Skate, Skate 2, and Skate 3. The trade-off is optional in-game purchases including the Premium Pass, San Van Bucks for cosmetics, and likely more monetization down the road. Cross-play and cross-progression work across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam.
Mobile versions for Android and iOS are coming later, though no date has been announced. When they arrive, expect the monetization to ramp up significantly since mobile players are conditioned to spend money on cosmetics and progression shortcuts. EA knows exactly what they’re doing by positioning Skate as a platform rather than a one-time purchase.
The Early Access Struggles
Skate’s September 16 early access launch didn’t go smoothly. Server connection issues locked players out for hours, and those who did get in found gameplay that felt repetitive after a few sessions. IGN’s early access review criticized the mobile game-style progression, dud dialogue, and cutesy art style that clashes with the franchise’s roots. The core skating mechanics nail the physics and feel of the original trilogy, but everything surrounding that foundation falls flat.
Community feedback highlighted the lack of meaningful content beyond endless grinding for cosmetics. San Vansterdam is big, but there’s not much to do besides skating around completing repetitive challenges. The social features meant to create organic multiplayer moments haven’t clicked yet, leaving the massive online skateboarding sandbox feeling surprisingly empty despite thousands of concurrent players.
Competing With Tony Hawk’s Legacy
Skate faces an uphill battle against nostalgia for both its own franchise and the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remasters that modernized those classics without sacrificing their identity. THPS 1 and 2 proved players want tight arcade action with progression systems that respect their time. Skate is betting on simulation-style physics and live service hooks instead, which might be the wrong call.
The previous Skate games succeeded because they offered an alternative to Tony Hawk’s arcade insanity. Realistic physics, spot-focused challenges, and creating your own footage through replay editors gave players creative freedom. Turning that into a battle pass grind with seasonal events dilutes what made the franchise special in the first place.
What Full Circle Needs to Fix
Season 1 content is nice, but the fundamental problems run deeper. Players want meaningful progression beyond cosmetics, more varied challenges that test skating skills instead of time investment, and social features that actually encourage interaction. The game lacks personality despite colorful art direction and branded gear partnerships. San Vansterdam feels sterile compared to the lived-in environments of older Skate games.
Full Circle emphasizes that early access means bugs and issues will persist as they iterate based on feedback. That’s fair for a live service game, but the core design philosophy seems off. Chasing Fortnite-style seasonal content instead of building a proper skating sandbox might please EA executives looking at engagement metrics, but it alienates the fans who waited over a decade for a new Skate game.
The Roadmap Moving Forward
Season 1 runs from October 7 through December 2, 2025. After that, Season 2 begins with longer duration and expanded rewards. Full Circle hasn’t detailed what comes next beyond vague promises of regular updates with different cosmetic items, themes, events, music, and challenges. The roadmap exists somewhere, but transparency about future content would help players decide whether sticking around is worth it.
Mobile versions launching later could bring a surge of new players and revenue, but they might also push monetization even harder. EA’s track record with free-to-play live service games doesn’t inspire confidence that player experience will take priority over quarterly earnings reports. Skate could evolve into something great through early access feedback, or it could double down on battle pass grinding and fade into irrelevance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Skate Season 1 start?
Season 1 launches October 7, 2025 and runs until December 2, 2025. The update is available simultaneously across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.
Is Skate free-to-play?
Yes, Skate is completely free-to-play with optional in-game purchases including the Premium Pass, cosmetic items, and currency called San Van Bucks. Cross-play and cross-progression work across all platforms.
What is the Skate Pass?
The Skate Pass is a battle pass system with free and premium tracks. Players earn Tix currency through gameplay to unlock over 80 rewards in Season 1, expanding to 100 items in Season 2. Any San Van Bucks earned can be used to purchase future passes.
What platforms is Skate available on?
Skate launched in early access on September 16, 2025 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via EA App, Epic Games Store, and Steam. Mobile versions for Android and iOS are coming later.
What are the Season 1 events?
Two seasonal events are planned for Season 1. Skate-o-Ween brings Halloween-themed content and rewards, while 7-Ply Maple Harvest offers another themed event with exclusive cosmetics and challenges.
How many cosmetics are in Season 1?
Season 1 includes over 200 cosmetic items spread across clothes, skateboards, emotes, badges, and branded gear. There are over 80 total rewards available through the Skate Pass system.
Is this Skate 4?
No. EA and Full Circle emphasize this is not Skate 4, a sequel, remake, or remaster. It’s officially titled just skate and represents an evolution of the franchise into a live service model.
Conclusion
Season 1 is Full Circle’s first real test of whether Skate can survive as a live service game. The content looks solid on paper with over 200 cosmetics, seasonal events, and evolving Community Parks, but it doesn’t address the fundamental issues that made early access feel hollow. If the weekly challenges and battle pass grind can’t deliver the creative freedom and skating culture that defined the original trilogy, all the Halloween skins and branded gear in the world won’t matter. Skate has until December to prove it deserves a future beyond early access mediocrity.