Now that *skate.* has been introduced to the public, fans have shared their initial thoughts on the latest installment in the EA series, and the feedback has been less than favorable. Many have expressed that it feels lacking and too reminiscent of *Fortnite*.

The most recent addition to the *Skate* franchise is available in early access after a 15-year wait for some enthusiasts. As previously indicated, it is free-to-play. With no entry fee, players have flocked to see what the excitement is about, and SteamDB indicates that thousands have tried the game. With a peak of nearly 100,000 players in the last 24 hours, it is fair to say the title has garnered reasonable popularity; however, many of those players have shared their dissatisfaction on Steam.

It is important to note that *skate.* is still in early access, and the developers have shared this prior to the early access launch across all platforms: “The Early Access launch includes what we deem as the essentials of *skate.* such as the Flick-It trick system from earlier games, which we’ve honed for contemporary players. There will also be plenty of content to engage with alongside other players in San Vansterdam. Our vision is that the “full” version will evolve from Early Access, with additional challenges, features, live events, and gameplay enhancements based on user feedback.” With that context, let’s delve into the player responses.

With over 8,000 reviews currently available on Steam (showing a “Mixed” reception) just two days post-launch, fans have thoroughly explored why they find the latest title unsatisfactory. Although almost every review on the Steam page highlights the excellent ‘feel of the gameplay’ and the effectiveness of the trick system, the other aspects have left players disappointed.

One user, SadBoiStabler states, “There is no skate culture present. There is no trace of the street skating underground here,” arguing that the game is a more polished version of what made the previous trilogy exceptional. Another fan, Lusk8, directly counters the developers’ assertions by stating, “They received a lot of feedback over the last 2 or 3 years. I played the pre-alpha more than a year ago. They listened to the criticisms? I doubt it,” claiming that Full Circle had since 2020 to incorporate player feedback from pre-alpha gameplay but chose to take a different route. Fan Anakin Skywalker concurs, saying, “It’s as if they didn’t heed the fans.”

Both players (and others who have shared their views) were disappointed by the absence of gameplay modes like Hall of Meat, a narrative mode, and S.K.A.T.E. Death Races, which provided previous titles with a clear identity; nonetheless, most players acknowledged that skating does feel enjoyable. One reviewer, Ciri, was particularly displeased with their experience, stating, “You could’ve told me this is a new game mode inside of *Fortnite*… and I would’ve believed you,” reflecting the sentiments of other players who dislike the Fortnite-like art style of *skate.*

On Reddit, fans have been expressing similar sentiments. They have pointed out the absence of skate culture, the lack of a coherent storyline, and the overall missing elements that made earlier games exceptional. Nearly all fans across both platforms have observed the irony that there’s “no S.K.A.T.E.” in a game named *skate.*

In summary, fans appear discontented with the path EA has taken with the new *skate.* installment, but it is essential to recognize that the new title is only two days old and remains in early access (even though development has been underway for a longer duration). There may still be an opportunity for Full Circle and EA to rectify the situation before full launch.