Season 3 of starts on March 10th. Skateboard. In Early Access. Developer Full Circle promises more transparency, more frequent roadmap updates, and a stronger focus on performance. At the same time, the return to Grom Island is causing discussion, as it is initially hidden behind the Premium Pass.
An official blog post states: “In Early Access, the game's name is "Change".“In the future, we want to communicate more clearly what is under development and what is merely…”on the radar“This is fundamentally a sensible step. Especially in a live service game, predictability is crucial for the community.”
What Season 3 specifically brings to Skate.
In terms of content, Season 3 delivers several features that fans have been requesting for months. Darkslides and Dark Catches are back – and can now be combined with any flip trick. This expands the variety of tricks. Boneless tricks have also been reworked, with improved responsiveness and more reliable timing.
Also new is "Speedlines," a mode that combines line challenges with time pressure. Skate video enthusiasts will likely find their playground here. The replay editor receives additional effects such as color temperature, saturation, and keyframe options for playback speed—a clear benefit for creators.
In addition, there are cosmetic loadouts, tattoos, a revamped store with over 200 items, and more brand partnerships, including adidas, Vans, Thrasher, HUF, and Jenkem. This feels authentic and fits the skate culture, but remains purely cosmetic. It doesn't add any gameplay depth.
Grom paywall: A matter of trust for Skate.
Things get more complicated with Grom. The island is an expanded version of the tutorial area. Premium Pass holders can visit it for free during the first month. Everyone else has to wait until April or spend 500 Rip Chips for a day pass, as described. Kotaku determines.
However, prior to release, EA had clearly communicated that it would be “No map areas behind a paywall“Grom is temporary, but only partially accessible, which contradicts the earlier statement. Full Circle argues that Early Access means plans can change. Formally correct – difficult to communicate.”
This isn't so much about an island as it is about trust. If a fundamental rule is weakened, the question inevitably arises: How reliable are other promises?
Roadmap 2.0: More honesty or more buffers?
The new approach to the roadmap is a positive development. Features will now be clearly marked as "In Development" or "On the Radar." Meetups, Spot Battle, SKATE, matchmaking, and a new indoor area are actively under development. Private servers and community parks are still in their early stages.
This creates transparency and at the same time allows for the flexibility to remove things again. This is precisely where it is decided whether Skateboard. Whether it will be perceived as a long-term community project or as a classic free-to-play model with cautious wording. Season 3 definitely brings meaningful gameplay improvements, but the monetization surrounding Grom is an unnecessary stumbling block. Early Access is not a license to break principles.
The question for you is: Do you consider Grom a legitimate free-to-play model – or a signal that Skate shouldn't send?
