On September 16, 2025, Electronics Arts (EA) and Full Circle granted the public early access to Skate.(4), the fourth release in the acclaimed “Skate” video game series.
Players, streamers and skateboarders alike have given the game mixed reviews, with some praising its updated and enhanced features, replaying it for hours on end — while others just can’t get behind it. Is EA sacrificing the series’ nostalgic roots for broader appeal? Or is public opinion simply forming too fast?
Spoiler alert- it might just be the latter.
So, is Skate 4 Good? Here are 5 things critics get wrong about the game's gameplay.
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Flying is Fun, Like Objectively
One of the top criticisms flying around comment sections and forums, respectively, is the introduction of gliding, A.K.A., the spread eagle. Many view it as a way to cheat, hitting actual complicated tricks, but people, let's remember: it's a video game. Yes, hitting a spread eagle means you technically didn't "hit the gap"—no, that shouldn't be taking away from the overall experience when others do it. This new feature seems to have made the experience more enjoyable for players and could add a whole new perspective to the "Hall of Meat" minigames if developers add it to the full game. More or less, if you're playing Skate to get a realistic skateboarding experience, you may wanna look elsewhere.
"Superior Mechanics and Flow”
Compared to its predecessor, Skate.(4) offers a noticeably faster-paced and more dynamic skating experience. The ability to perform flip tricks in quicker succession, combined with improved mechanics such as mantling and climbing, enhances the overall gameplay.
Assuming the map will be further extended in the actual drop, the Beta presents the same replayability. After over a decade of advancements, Skate.(4) demonstrates technical progression. The skating mechanics strike a balance between fluid, almost surreal movement and reactivity — it’s too smooth — resulting in an experience that feels authentic and highly enjoyable.
There’s A Possibility You Haven’t Played Enough
All preferences in how you skate are adjustable, so it's up to you how “difficult” or realistic your experience is. The game has been out for only a month and a half so, please, try to understand your personal feel for the game before posting that 2 A.M reddit column about the game.
It’s A New Game, For A New Generation
Seemingly, the internet-wide difference in opinion mainly resides within style & aesthetic preference- art style is majority preferred in Skate 3. Nostalgia is extremely important, especially for this particular franchise, but it's also important to remember this is a new game, with a new generation in mind.
Many longtime fans of the Skate series may find it challenging to accept that the game’s target demographic has shifted to a younger audience. While some veterans may not connect with certain design choices aimed at appealing to newer, younger players, it’s important to recognize that gaming audiences evolve over time. Everyone else was a kid when they played skate games at some point- this is what the kid scene is reflective of these days. Nobody has to like it, but it is what it is.
It’s Just The Beta- Relax.
Lets give the game and developers time to enhance the concepts that have already been tested through feedback. The skate community now has a foundation for the next game they know they are going to drop. Maintaining progressive discourse is the whole point of releasing a beta- lets keep the harsh judgement for the game you're gonna have to pay for. That being said, it’s still missing a few key features that are essential to the Skate brand and will likely need to be included before the whole community fully shows support. Here are a couple:
Due to the fact the Beta is digestible for all 8th Gen platforms (PS4, Xbox One, etc.), the game carries little new gen features that would enhance the game even more.
Story mode, Hardcore, Hall of Meat, extended challenges, and side missions are fan favorites eagerly anticipated in the new release after beta testing—their absence is the main concern among players.
Skaters should be able to grab onto the backs of vehicles like in previous Skate games, come on now.
People who enjoyed Skate 1 had major criticisms for Skate 2, and then on for Skate 3, and now for Skate.(4). It’s a cycle of nostalgia that is respected, but also predictable.
Developers will need to make significant updates that address player culture and incorporate nostalgic elements from Skate 3 to meet the high expectations set by longtime fans. Oh and not release the actual game 10 years after beta testing.