Skate 4 Receives “Mixed” Reviews on Steam as Fans Debate Early Access

The long-awaited return of the beloved skateboarding franchise, Skate, has finally arrived on PC, but its debut has been met with a surprisingly divisive reception. Currently in Early Access, the game, officially stylized as skate., holds a “Mixed” user rating on Steam, with a significant portion of the user base expressing disappointment. While the core gameplay and “Flick-It” controls are largely praised, many players are criticizing the game for its lack of content, live-service model, and a departure from the series’ original aesthetic.

After years of fan campaigns under the hashtag #Skate4, Electronic Arts and developer Full Circle have delivered a free-to-play, always-online title that has divided the gaming community. The initial launch on September 16, 2025, saw over 80,000 concurrent players, but a significant number of them quickly took to the review section to voice their concerns. The mixed reviews highlight a clear split between longtime fans who feel the game is missing key features from the originals and new players who are enjoying the core mechanics and social sandbox. This critical divide has made the game a major topic of discussion across all gaming forums and social media platforms.

Analyzing the Critical Divide: What Players Are Saying

The “Mixed” review status on Steam is not a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down; it reflects a complex set of critiques and praises. The most common complaints from negative reviews focus on these points:

• Missing Content: A primary source of frustration for longtime fans is the absence of iconic game modes and features from Skate 3 and its predecessors. Key elements like the “Hall of Meat,” “Game of S.K.A.T.E.,” a dedicated single-player story mode, and professional skaters are notably absent from the current Early Access build. This has led many to feel that the game is an empty “tech demo” rather than a full-fledged successor.
• Live-Service Model and Microtransactions: The game’s free-to-play nature and always-online requirement have been major sticking points. Players have voiced concerns about the presence of a “fully functional cash shop” and cosmetics locked behind paywalls, with some reviewers calling the game a “soulless cash-grab.” This live-service approach, complete with a battle pass and repetitive challenges, is seen by many as a betrayal of the series’ counter-culture roots.
• Art Style and World Design: The new art style has been a point of contention. Some players have described it as “gentrified” or “sterile,” a departure from the grittier, more realistic look of the older games. The world of San Vansterdam, while expansive, is criticized for feeling empty and lacking the memorable, lived-in feel of the previous games’ maps.

Conversely, the positive reviews focus almost exclusively on the one thing that everyone seems to agree on: the gameplay itself. Supporters of the game highlight these aspects:

• Nostalgic and Refined Controls: The “Flick-It” controls, the heart and soul of the Skate series, have been praised for feeling as good as, if not better than, their predecessors. The act of pulling off tricks and stringing together lines is described as immensely satisfying, with many players spending hours simply skating around the map.
• Sandbox Potential: The open-world nature of the game, with its cross-platform multiplayer and 150-player servers, is seen as a major plus. Many players are finding creative and hilarious ways to interact with the world and its physics, leading to viral social media clips that showcase the game’s chaotic charm. The ability to place ramps and objects in the world and create your own spots is a well-received feature.

The Business of Early Access

The skate. launch serves as a classic case study in the perils and promises of Early Access. For EA and Full Circle, the decision to release the game in this state is a way to build the title alongside the community, using player feedback to shape its future. However, for a franchise with such a passionate and long-suffering fanbase, the incomplete state of the game has been a significant disappointment. Many fans feel that after a 15-year wait, they expected a more complete experience, and they are skeptical that the missing features will be added in a way that respects the series’ legacy.

The developers have a long road ahead, with a roadmap that includes new content, improvements to the replay editor, and player-created parks. Whether they can address the community’s core concerns and transform this “Mixed” rating into a “Very Positive” one will determine the long-term success of this highly anticipated title. In the meantime, the game is free to play, and players who are curious can check it out with no financial risk, which is a powerful advantage in the highly competitive PC gaming landscape.