EA's latest round of personnel adjustments has affected Full Circle, the development studio behind Skate. The team will be scaled down, with positions eliminated for several senior developers. Skate will remain online, with no news of server shutdowns or cancellation at this time.
Several developers have confirmed these changes on social media, including Season Creative Director John Epler, who has been with EA for nearly 20 years, as well as Senior Game Designer Adam Martinazzi and Senior Designer David Milne.
EA stated that Skate has successfully attracted players into the game, but now needs to create an experience that retains users long-term. The company is therefore adjusting its studio structure, planning for smaller, more focused teams to execute a clear community roadmap while pursuing a healthier and more sustainable business model.
Full Circle already underwent a round of layoffs in February of the same year, when EA similarly stated that the adjustments were made to better support the game's long-term development. The studio consists of former Black Box members who worked on the first three original Skate titles and is currently responsible for developing the series' reboot, which adopts a live-service model.
Analysts believe that while Skate has maintained a relatively stable player base, it has yet to reach a wider audience. Monetization design and the lack of a traditional single-player experience have also sparked player dissatisfaction. This downsizing occurs against the backdrop of broader layoffs at EA, though the game continues to operate normally at this stage.