EA and Full Circle, the studio behind the early access title skate., have issued a statement addressing the recent surge in player-created mods. While the developers support community creativity and custom content, they are drawing a firm line against mods that bypass game systems to unlock paid microtransactions and unreleased assets.
This stance comes in the wake of the rapid popularity of ReSkate, a modding platform that allows players to experience the game offline with custom maps and cosmetics. ReSkate reportedly garnered 350,000 downloads within hours of its release. The developers acknowledged the passion and creativity of the modding community, stating that skateboarding culture itself is built on expression and pushing boundaries.
"Where we have to draw the line is when mods or other tools bypass our systems to unlock paid cosmetics, release gated/unreleased content, or profit from these unauthorized assets," the statement read. Full Circle emphasized that such actions negatively impact the artists, brands, creators, and the development team who work to bring authentic skate culture to the game. They also promised to introduce more robust community creation tools in future updates.
According to PC Gamer, the creators of ReSkate stated they do not intend to replace the live game and understand the need for Full Circle to generate revenue for ongoing development. ReSkate's official channels also reportedly prohibit mods that provide free access to premium in-game cosmetics.
Full Circle has faced challenges recently, including unspecified staff layoffs earlier this year. The game itself currently holds a 'Mixed' rating on Steam, with many player reviews citing concerns over excessive microtransactions and paywalled content. An early access review from Eurogamer noted that the initial version of skate. showed promise.