EA’s highly anticipated return to skateboarding just hit a major speed bump. After 15 years without a new Skate game, the early access launch on September 16th has been absolutely crushed by server issues, leaving tens of thousands of players stuck in endless queues instead of landing tricks.
The Numbers Are Brutal
We’re talking about some seriously painful wait times here. Players are sharing screenshots of queues with over 50,000 people ahead of them. That’s not a typo – fifty thousand. Even if each person only took a minute to get through (which they don’t), you’re looking at potential wait times measured in days, not hours.
Some fans have been so frustrated they’re just giving up entirely and planning to come back when the initial rush dies down. Can’t really blame them.
Why This Hurts More Than Typical Launch Issues
Here’s what makes this particularly frustrating: unlike previous Skate games that you could enjoy offline, this new version requires an internet connection for everything. That means even players who just want to cruise around solo and practice tricks are getting locked out by server problems.
This design choice is hitting especially hard with longtime fans who remember being able to just pop in the disc and start skating immediately. Now they’re dealing with the same online-only headaches that have plagued other major game launches.
What’s Actually Happening When You Try to Play
The problems don’t end once you finally get through the queue either. Players who’ve managed to download the game are reporting:
- Connection errors that boot you back to the queue (imagine waiting hours just to get kicked out)
- Infinite loading screens after completing the tutorial
- “No internet access” errors that dump you into an even longer queue
- General instability that makes it hard to stay connected
Basically, even when the game works, it doesn’t really work.
The gameplay so far
byu/BittaminMusic inSkateEA
EA’s Response and What to Expect
The good news is that EA’s development team acknowledged the issues pretty quickly and said they’re adding more servers to handle demand. As of now, more players are reportedly getting through, but it’s still hit-or-miss whether you’ll have a smooth experience.
The Bigger Picture on Launch Day Disasters
This situation highlights a growing problem with modern game launches. When everything requires an online connection, server capacity becomes make-or-break for the entire experience. It’s especially painful for a franchise like Skate, where a huge part of the appeal has always been the chill, solo experience of just skating around and perfecting your style.
Should You Even Bother Trying Right Now?
Honestly? If you’re not desperate to play immediately, you might want to wait a few days. Launch week server issues usually resolve themselves as the initial crowd spreads out and developers add capacity. Plus, since this is early access and the game will be free-to-play when it fully launches, there’s no real rush unless you’re dying to be among the first to experience it.
What This Means for Skate’s Future
The massive demand is actually good news for the franchise’s long-term health. Clearly, there’s still huge appetite for skateboarding games after all these years. Once EA gets their server situation sorted out, this could be the comeback the skating game genre has been waiting for.
The real test will be whether the gameplay lives up to the 15-year wait once people can actually, you know, play it consistently.
For now, if you’re planning to jump in, maybe have a backup plan ready. Or just practice your patience – you’re going to need it for those queue times.
Other Latest News:
