Skate Players Unload On EA Over Broken Promise About Not Paywalling Maps

EA is bringing back the Isle of Grom in Skate Season 3, but fans aren’t happy about it because only players who have purchased a premium pass will be able to freely revisit the tutorial island. Essentially, it will be locked behind a paywall for everyone else, which goes against the promise EA made last year before Skate hit early access.

Thus far, the fan response to EA’s announcement has been largely negative.

EA subsequently issued a response that it launched Skate in early access “so we could build it with players, not behind closed doors … Yes, sometimes plans have to change. That’s part of the deal when you’re building in public. We’re here, we’re listening, and we’re going to keep shaping skate. Together.”

“Sure, ‘plans have to change,'” wrote Rei Lynn on X. “But if you’re promoting the game under this promise, originally posting about it on your social medias, putting it in your FAQ, and even made it available as a sticker on the official Discord, it’s a huge betrayal to sweep it all under the rug.”

Grom has been enhanced and updated since its debut as the tutorial island, but it will only be available to premium pass owners in March. In April, Skate will temporarily allow everyone to access Grom as part of multi-week event that’s being billed as the island’s grand opening. Following that event, free access will revert to premium pass holders. However, players who aren’t buying premium passes will be able to earn in-game currency–500 rip chips–and pay for a 24-hour pass that allows them to visit Grom.

Players previously called out a Dead Space skin in Skate that cost $35, especially since a more refined version of that outfit was in Skate 3 as an Easter egg.

Skate Season 3 will launch on March 10.