Skateboard fans are upset after the game developers announced that the tutorial area will be returning, and that players will have to pay to access it. This is frustrating for fans because the developers previously promised that no part of the game would be restricted by payment requirements.
On February 20, 2026, the skate team shared details about what players can look forward to in Season 3. The update included news of fresh cosmetic items featuring popular brands, and improvements to the replay editor.
The most important update is the return of the tutorial zone, and it’s been expanded. When you first start the game, you’ll enter a tutorial area. Previously, after about 10 minutes of learning the controls, you were immediately sent to the main map with no way to go back without creating a new character. Now, you’ll be able to return to the tutorial area after completing it.
Although this area was originally small, players really enjoyed its distinctive landscape. Because of its popularity, the developers have made it bigger and are bringing it back. However, players will need to purchase access to visit – it’s not free to enter.
Returning to skate’s tutorial area comes with a cost
The tutorial area, now known as the Isle of Grom, is getting a major update with lots of new places to skate and discover.
The latest dev blog features a comparison showing the new area looks similar to previous ones, but with some fresh features and the updated colors we’ve seen in recent seasons. The developers believe players will really enjoy this new location, called Grom.
Season 3 is bringing some exciting new features! The Full Circle team recently posted a blog detailing the updates, including the ability to add brands to skate.Pass, on-demand items, a return to the Isle of Grom, and much more!
— skate. direct communications (@SkateStatus) February 19, 2026
Here’s what’s happening and why people are upset. The location is available to everyone, but only for a limited time. The problem isn’t that it’s inaccessible, but that it’s not permanently free. Let’s look at the details.
Starting March 10th and lasting until April 14th, a new area called the Isle of Grom will replace the tutorial island, but only players with the Skate Pass Premium will be able to visit.
After that, from April 14 – May 5, anyone will be able to jump in. No costs attached.
Starting May 5th and continuing after June 2nd, access will require payment. Players with the Skate Pass Premium will still have unlimited access. Everyone else can purchase a 24-hour day pass for 500 Rip Chips, the in-game currency you earn by skating.
Initially, access was exclusive to paying members. Then it was made free for everyone, but it’s now returned to a premium model. This time, though, there’s also a way to earn access through activity.
Skate’s new Isle of Grom sparks backlash
Ever since the announcement, fans have expressed strong disapproval for several reasons. While many are upset about the pricing, others are criticizing the look of the Isle of Grom, claiming the new design is almost a copy of the original.
Most of the criticism focuses on the game’s cost, and specifically, the developers not keeping their promises. Before the game launched in Early Access, they clearly stated that no areas of the map would be locked and require additional payment.
Five months after launching into Early Access, a portion of the game will soon require a purchase to access.
One frustrated player complained that it seemed like the rules hadn’t been followed. Another expressed disbelief and annoyance at having to pay to revisit the tutorial island, calling it ridiculous.
We released skate. in Early Access to develop it alongside our community, getting their feedback every step of the way. Since September, we’ve been consistently updating the game world, refining characters, and adding features based on player requests – and we have plenty more exciting updates planned! Sometimes, we need to adjust our plans…
— skate. (@skate) February 19, 2026
Some players reacted strongly, even wondering if the decision meant the game was being shut down. One player predicted the servers would be turned off by the end of the year.
Responding to criticism on X (formerly Twitter), the skateboarding account explained that they released the game as an Early Access title to involve players in the development process, rather than creating it privately.
Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay, especially when we’re creating something out in the open. We’re paying attention to your feedback and will continue to develop this together.
Skate has seen its player base shrink since its Early Access release, according to Steam data. The game initially attracted over 134,000 concurrent players, but now typically peaks at around 2,646 players each day.
While this doesn’t include console players, it clearly shows that tens of thousands of PC players aren’t coming back, even with major updates and new seasons being released.
Recently, the developers of Highguard announced layoffs, and player numbers on PC were similarly low at that time. This situation is comparable to what we’re seeing now.
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2026-02-20 03:20