Writer Digital Arts lately slashed 400 roles throughout its firm, which resulted within the shuttering of legendary RPG studio BioWare. But in addition impacted by the layoffs was Skate developer Full Circle, and now I am rising more and more nervous about the way forward for a franchise I waited so lengthy to make a comeback.
A part of EA’s newest spherical of layoffs on October 21 included reducing an unspecified variety of staffers to create a “very clear roadmap” that results in a “more healthy and extra sustainable enterprise.” Then, as VGC famous on the identical day, “many” of the builders at Full Circle are gone. This consists of artists Brendan Vermeltfoort and Will Granda, seasonal artistic director John Epler, and senior designers Adam Martinazzi and David Milne–all of whom posted the unlucky information on LinkedIn.
It is at all times a bummer when proficient builders lose their jobs by the hands of company greed, however this one stings for me personally. As a giant Skate girlie, I used to be so stoked for the franchise to make a comeback, and much more stoked to get my arms on the sport in September 2025.
It is had its stumbles, to make certain. Season 2 was gentle on new content material. Season 3 launched a brand new map … that was locked behind a paywall. Season 4 gave us an empty stadium … that was additionally locked behind a paywall. However regardless of bailing on each trick, you may see Full Circle getting nearer to touchdown at every try. Season 5, which kicked off on September 8, hasn’t been the very best, however it has been a strong step in the suitable route, and even got here with a large park harking back to Skate 3’s Tremendous Extremely Mega Park.
Alongside the way in which, there have been new tips, new makes an attempt at development (that oftentimes drew the ire of the participant base), a smattering of recent gear, and a plethora of bug fixes to make every season a bit smoother than the final (although there have been inevitably bugs with every new content material drop). It was evident that Full Circle, which consists of builders who labored on the whole Skate franchise, wished to make the very best Skate recreation attainable after the sequence went dormant for 15 years. The group simply wants time to prepare dinner. In any case, Skate was by no means a live-service franchise, and I do not suppose it ever wanted to be one.
That is what has me nervous in regards to the recreation’s future. Whereas EA appears to be dedicated to protecting Skate on-line (for now), the group needs to be a lot smaller now–especially after Full Circle suffered layoffs in February. Recreation improvement is already arduous, and I think about operating a live-service is even tougher. Doing that with fewer workers sounds much more difficult.
Whereas we do not know the precise variety of layoffs at Full Circle, I simply need Skate to succeed. I’ve waited over a decade for the franchise to make a comeback, and I am having a tough time watching it undergo as a result of earnings matter greater than the individuals who make the product. There’s real good within the recreation, and the group was lastly hitting its stride. I simply hope that EA offers Full Circle the time–and resources–it wants to comprehend its imaginative and prescient.