{"id":30382,"date":"2026-02-21T21:42:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T13:42:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=30382"},"modified":"2026-02-21T21:42:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T13:42:34","slug":"skate-players-are-not-happy-about-the-season-3-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=30382","title":{"rendered":"Skate Players Are Not Happy About the Season 3 Update"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em><strong>Skate<\/strong><\/em> players are accusing EA and developer Full Circle of walking back an earlier promise that the game&#8217;s map expansions would never be paywalled. The dispute is now centered on Season 3\u2019s headline destination, which introduces a tiered entry system that many vocal <em>Skate<\/em> players say crosses a line for the free-to-play game.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p><em>Skate<\/em> launched in early access on PC and consoles in September 2025. Since then, the game has delivered two quarterly seasons. Season 2, dubbed &#8220;Future Radical,&#8221; kicked off on December 2 and is set to run until March 3, with Season 3 planned to follow on March 10. Full Circle has recently started sharing first the concrete details about the upcoming content drop, stirring some controversy in the process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card  article article-card small  no-badge  active-content                      \" data-include-community-rating=\"false\" id=\"kick-scooter-video-game-scoots-sandbox-sports-sim-skate-like\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/scootx-backflip-trick-screenshot-stylized-poster-like-effect.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/scootx-backflip-trick-screenshot-stylized-poster-like-effect.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=140&amp;h=98&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"440\" height=\"364\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ScootX backflip trick screenshot stylized poster-like effect\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/scootx-backflip-trick-screenshot-stylized-poster-like-effect.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=182&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2025\/09\/scootx-backflip-trick-screenshot-stylized-poster-like-effect.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=220&amp;h=182&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<p>                    <span data-field=\"label\" class=\"article-card-label\"><label>Related<\/label><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-content regular article-block\">\n<h5 class=\"display-card-title \">\n<p>\t\t\tNew Game Is Like Skate, But With a Scooter<\/p>\n<\/h5>\n<p class=\"display-card-excerpt\">One upcoming game is looking to deliver a sandbox-style, physics-driven sports experience akin to Skate\u2014but with a kick scooter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"fans-criticize-skate-over-isle-of-grom-paywall\">\n                        Fans Criticize Skate Over Isle of Grom Paywall<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<p>As some vocal players have been noting on social media since February 19, the initial pitch for <em>Skate<\/em>&#8216;s seasonal model included a straightforward promise that no maps added to the game post-release would be locked behind a paywall. However, Full Circle has now decided to reverse course, at least partially: Season 3 is set to introduce Isle of Grom, an expanded version of the game&#8217;s tutorial island with varying, date-dependent availability. Initially, only those who purchase the next iteration of skate.Pass Premium will be able to access the area every day. Although the limited-access period is intended to be temporary, the mere prospect of <em>Skate<\/em> placing a map behind a paywall has already drawn criticism from players online.<\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-vignette\">\n<div id=\"ro\" class=\"is-start\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"stage\" id=\"stage\">\n      <!-- START --><\/p>\n<section class=\"panel start-panel is-active\" id=\"panelStart\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<div class=\"startCard\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"start-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/chronologic-logo-color-dark2x.png\" alt=\"Chronologic\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"subtitle\">\n            Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            <span class=\"selectWrap\"><br \/>\n              <select id=\"difficultyStart\" class=\"pillselect\" aria-label=\"Difficulty\"><option value=\"5\">Easy (5)<\/option><option value=\"7\" selected=\"selected\">Medium (7)<\/option><option value=\"10\">Hard (10)<\/option><\/select><br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<p>            <button class=\"pillbtn start\" id=\"startBtn\" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n              Start<br \/>\n            <\/button>\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>      <!-- GAME --><\/p>\n<section class=\"panel game-panel\" id=\"panelGame\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<\/section>\n<p>      <!-- RESULTS --><\/p>\n<section class=\"panel results-panel\" id=\"panelResults\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <!-- floating ghost for pointer dragging --><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"is-start\" id=\"ro\">\n<div class=\"wrap\">\n<div class=\"stage\" id=\"stage\"><!-- START --><\/p>\n<section aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"panel start-panel is-active\" id=\"panelStart\">\n<div class=\"startCard\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Chronologic\" class=\"start-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/chronologic-logo-color-dark2x.png\"\/><br \/>\nRearrange the covers into the correct US release order.<\/p>\n<p><span>Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)<\/span><button class=\"pillbtn start\" id=\"startBtn\" type=\"button\">Start<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- GAME --><\/p>\n<section aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"panel game-panel\" id=\"panelGame\">\n<\/section>\n<p><!-- RESULTS --><\/p>\n<section aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"panel results-panel\" id=\"panelResults\">\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- floating ghost for pointer dragging --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Full Circle\u2019s rollout effectively treats Isle of Grom as a rotating destination: from March 10 to April 14, unlimited access is reserved for skate.Pass Premium holders; from April 14 to May 5, the island opens to all players for a limited-time event; and from May 5 to June 2, <em>Skate<\/em>&#8216;s F2P players can enter by spending 500 earnable Rip Chips on a 24-hour day pass. While the studio can argue this still leaves a non-paying route to the area, critics argue the structure effectively amounts to renting a map and sets an uncomfortable precedent for how future locations could be handled once the grand-opening window ends.<\/p>\n<p>EA addressed the backlash by pointing to the realities of <em>Skate<\/em>&#8216;s development model. &#8220;Yes, sometimes plans have to change,&#8221; the game&#8217;s official Twitter account posted on February 19, describing that as &#8220;part of the deal&#8221; when developing an early access title. The post generated more than 100,000 impressions within 24 hours but did little to calm criticism. Some players argued that <em>Skate<\/em> should not have promoted its &#8220;no paid maps&#8221; pledge so prominently, including in its FAQ and as a Discord sticker, if the policy was not set in stone. For those critics, the concern is less about Season 3 being experimental and more about altering a trust-sensitive promise about how Skate\u2019s world would grow.<\/p>\n<p><em>Skate<\/em> Season 3 will span far more than just the Isle of Grom, with its other additions likely being much less controversial. Full Circle has teased additions aimed at expanding skate.Pass content, including more rewards based on real-world brands like Adidas, plus a variety of store changes and a new &#8220;Premium+&#8221; bundle. A separate update is expected to outline additional gameplay features, which are supposed to deliver everything &#8220;from darkslides to grittier streets.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It remains unclear how the ongoing criticism over the Season 3 map access model may affect player engagement. SteamDB data shows the game is currently peaking at about 2,000 concurrent users on Valve&#8217;s platform, which is a 98% decrease compared to <em>Skate<\/em>&#8216;s Steam player base in September 2025. Full Circle previously indicated that <em>Skate<\/em> will remain in early access for at least one year. However, the studio has not committed to a concrete 1.0 launch timeline.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card type-video-game large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"2268-4968-878273d362cd\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img  has-image-group\" data-stnl=\"%7B%22category%22%3A%22Click%20Interactions%22%2C%22name%22%3A%22Display%20Card%22%2C%22action%22%3A%22Fullscreen%20Image%20Load%22%2C%22once%22%3Atrue%7D\" data-stnl-group-once=\"bkUzEeIzur\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Skate Tag Page Cover Art\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.gamerantimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/skate-tag-page-cover-art.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n<p>                        <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                         <!--  Display card open critics widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Released<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeptember 16, 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>ESRB<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tTeen \/ Crude Humor, Lyrics, Mild Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Developer(s)<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFull Circle<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Engine<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tFrostbite<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to play button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to play preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-2268-4968-878273d362cd\" name=\"extra-content-2268-4968-878273d362cd\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/gamerant.com\/skate-season-3-map-paywall\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Skate players are accusing EA and developer Full Circle of walking back an earlier promise that the game&#8217;s map expansions would never be paywalled. The&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30383,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[1231,3392,668,12241,2622],"class_list":["post-30382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech-gadgets-reviews","tag-happy","tag-players","tag-season","tag-skate","tag-update","wpcat-32-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30382\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30383"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}