After five years of stunning trailers and multiple delays, Skate Story finally has a concrete release date. Solo developer Sam Eng and publisher Devolver Digital announced that the surreal skateboarding adventure will launch on December 8, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. If you’ve been dying to play as a glass demon trying to devour the moon to escape hell, your patience is about to pay off.
The Long Road to Release
Skate Story was first announced way back in December 2020 during Devolver Digital’s Public Access Holiday Special. The game immediately caught attention with its unique premise and striking visual style. Originally slated for 2023, the game was delayed to 2024. Then it missed that window too, becoming such a notorious example of delays that Devolver included it in their tongue-in-cheek Delayed showcase in 2023, where they proudly announced titles they were pushing back.
But now, after years of waiting, December 8th is the official date. Sam Eng confirmed the news on the PlayStation Blog, marking the first specific release date the game has ever received beyond vague year windows. And honestly? The wait might have been worth it based on early reactions to the Steam demo that just dropped.
What Is Skate Story Actually About
The premise is absolutely bonkers in the best possible way. You play as a demon in the Underworld made entirely of glass and pain. The Devil gives you a skateboard and makes a simple deal: skate to the Moon, swallow it whole, and you’ll be freed from your eternal torment. That’s it. That’s the mission.
What follows is a journey through nine layers of hell called The Emptylands, where you’ll ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through ash and smoke-filled environments that look like fever dreams set to a psychedelic soundtrack. Along the way, you’ll destroy vicious demons with sick tricks, help a forgetful frog who apparently runs a bagel shop, and save other tortured souls while progressing from fragile beginner to hardened skater.
Based on a True Story Apparently
In his PlayStation Blog post, Sam Eng makes a hilarious claim that Skate Story is based on a true story. Of course, it’s been slightly dramatized for effect, and names and places have been changed to protect the privacy of those involved. For example, it wasn’t originally a frog who ran the bagel shop, and the skater had to get a lawyer before signing the Devil’s contract. The deadpan humor is perfect Devolver energy.
Gameplay That Rewards Mastery
Skate Story isn’t just about the aesthetic, though the visuals are undeniably captivating with their hazy lo-fi filter and abstract interpretation of Hell. The gameplay focuses on authentic skateboarding physics where you must master your weight distribution and body movement to pull off tricks properly.
Over 70 Tricks to Learn
The game features more than 70 different skateboarding tricks to progress through and perfect. You’ll complete skate trials to level up, learn new moves, and unlock better gear. The control scheme aims to provide a realistic and intuitive experience that rewards creativity and experimentation with different trick combinations and routes through environments.
Customization Through Soul Selling
In proper hellish fashion, you can literally sell your soul for new skateboard parts. Decks, wheels, trucks, and even stickers become available as you progress. The game features a gift shop where you can customize your setup to keep your skating fresh. Because even glass demons care about style points.
Destruction and Exploration
The skating isn’t just for show. You’ll skate fast to destroy fellow demons, though one trailer moment shows sitting down with a moon to debate why you even need to eat it. The game balances action with exploration, encouraging players to discover and create their own challenges as they cruise through surreal landscapes full of waxed ledges, unholy gaps, and tortured souls.
One wrong move shatters your glass body into pieces, adding genuine stakes to every trick. The satisfaction of nailing a perfect kickflip or landing a disgustingly sweet backside tailslide is balanced by the constant threat of fragility.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 8, 2025 |
| Platforms | PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Mac |
| Developer | Sam Eng (Solo Developer) |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Tricks Available | 70+ skateboarding tricks |
| Environments | Nine layers of The Underworld |
| Soundtrack | Blood Cultures + John Fio |
| Demo Available | Yes, on Steam right now |
The Soundtrack Brings NYC to Hell
One of the most praised aspects of Skate Story is its hypnotic soundtrack. New York artist Blood Cultures created 12 original tracks specifically for the game, capturing what Sam Eng describes as the city’s heartbeat with its chaos, beauty, and endless motion. The music features heavy synthesizers, light distant vocals, and a psychedelic quality that perfectly complements the surreal visuals.
Additional tracks from John Fio round out the experience, creating an immersive soundscape that elevates the gameplay into something richer and more alive than just a skateboarding game. The audio design is such a crucial part of the experience that many early previews specifically call out how the music transforms the atmosphere.
PS5 DualSense Integration
Sam Eng revealed that the PS5 version will take full advantage of the DualSense controller’s unique features. While specific details weren’t provided, expect haptic feedback that makes you feel every grind, every landing, and possibly even the shattering of your glass body when tricks go wrong. The adaptive triggers could also add resistance for more precise trick execution.
Demo Available Right Now on Steam
If you can’t wait until December 8th, a free demo just launched on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest October 2025 Edition. Early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with PC Gamer calling it so good that Skate Story is immediately a Game of the Year contender based on the demo alone.
The demo gives players a taste of the core mechanics, visual style, and soundtrack without spoiling too much of the journey. It’s the perfect opportunity to see if the unique premise and gameplay style click with you before committing to the full release.
The Developer Behind the Vision
Sam Eng is a solo indie developer based in New York City who previously created Zarvot, a game about cubes that released in 2018 for Steam and Nintendo Switch. Skate Story represents a massive leap in ambition and scope, tackling complex skateboarding physics and crafting a cohesive artistic vision that stands out in an increasingly crowded indie scene.
The fact that one person is responsible for the development makes the game’s quality and polish even more impressive. Of course, Eng had help from Blood Cultures and John Fio on the soundtrack, plus Devolver’s publishing support, but the core vision and execution come from a single creative mind.
Perfect Timing in the Skateboarding Renaissance
Skate Story arrives during an exciting resurgence for skateboarding games. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 launched earlier in 2025, and the long-awaited return of EA’s Skate finally happened in September. But where those games offer realistic or arcade takes on the sport, Skate Story provides something completely different with its surreal underworld setting and artistic presentation.
The variety in skateboarding games available in 2025 means there’s something for everyone, whether you want authentic simulation, nostalgic arcade action, or trippy demon adventures through nine layers of hell.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Skate Story release?
Skate Story launches on December 8, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam, and Mac. This is the first specific release date announced after years of delays.
What platforms is Skate Story coming to?
The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC via Steam, and macOS. A free demo is currently available on Steam.
Who is developing Skate Story?
Skate Story is developed by Sam Eng, a solo indie developer based in New York City who previously created the game Zarvot. The game is published by Devolver Digital.
What is Skate Story about?
You play as a demon made of glass and pain who must skateboard through nine layers of the Underworld to reach and swallow the Moon in order to be freed by the Devil. The game combines skateboarding mechanics with surreal exploration and puzzle-solving.
How many tricks are in Skate Story?
The game features over 70 different skateboarding tricks that players can learn, progress through, and master as they complete trials and level up their character.
Is there a Skate Story demo available?
Yes, a free demo is available right now on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest October 2025 Edition. PlayStation players will have to wait for the full release on December 8th.
Who composed the Skate Story soundtrack?
The soundtrack features 12 original tracks from New York artist Blood Cultures, with additional music composed by John Fio. The psychedelic music is designed to capture New York City’s energy and chaos.
Conclusion
Skate Story represents everything great about Devolver Digital’s commitment to publishing unique indie visions. What could have been just another skateboarding game instead becomes a surreal journey through hell with a glass demon protagonist, a forgetful frog running a bagel shop, and the simple goal of eating the moon to escape eternal damnation. After five years of development and multiple delays, December 8th can’t come soon enough. Sam Eng’s solo development effort has resulted in something that looks and sounds unlike anything else in gaming right now. The combination of authentic skateboarding physics, psychedelic visuals with that signature lo-fi haze, and Blood Cultures’ hypnotic soundtrack creates an experience that early demo players are already calling a Game of the Year contender. Whether you’re a skateboarding game veteran or just someone who appreciates bold artistic vision in games, Skate Story deserves your attention. And hey, if nothing else, you’ll finally get to answer the age-old question: what’s the Devil’s greatest weakness? According to Skate Story, it’s humility, perseverance, and a disgustingly sweet backside tailslide.