Electronic Arts' recent wave of layoffs, which saw 400 roles eliminated and the closure of BioWare's RPG studio, has also affected the development team behind the upcoming skateboarding game, Skate. Full Circle, the studio responsible for the franchise's revival, experienced significant staff departures on October 21st, sparking worries among players and observers about the game's future. Several developers, including artists Brendan Vermeltfoort and Will Granda, creative director John Epler, and senior designers Adam Martinazzi and David Milne, announced their departures on LinkedIn.
These layoffs are part of EA's broader strategy to create a "healthier and more sustainable business." While the exact number of affected employees at Full Circle remains undisclosed, the exodus includes individuals who had been instrumental in the game's development. The Skate franchise, which had been dormant for 15 years, was poised for a comeback, with a planned release date in September 2025. The game, operating under a live-service model, has seen incremental updates through its various seasons, introducing new content, bug fixes, and progression systems, though not without criticism regarding paywalled elements and player feedback.
Despite these challenges, the development team, comprised of veterans from the Skate series, was seen by some as nearing a breakthrough. Season 5, launched on September 8th, was noted as a step in the right direction, featuring a large park reminiscent of Skate 3's Super Ultra Mega Park. However, the recent layoffs, following an earlier round in February that also impacted Full Circle, raise concerns about the studio's capacity to deliver on its vision, especially given the demands of a live-service game. The worry is that a diminished team may struggle to maintain and evolve the game, potentially jeopardizing a comeback that many fans have eagerly awaited for over a decade.