Less than half a year after Skate* entered early access, its developer, Full Circle, has announced a round of layoffs, signaling a major shift in the game’s production and the studio’s long-term strategy.
The announcement comes as EA—already the top publisher by game downloads in 2025—faces financial pressures tied to an impending $20 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Silver Lake. Analysts have warned the deal’s debt load could trigger further restructuring, making this just the first in a potential wave of cuts.
In a statement, Full Circle framed the changes as necessary to ‘better support Skate’s long-term future,’ emphasizing that affected employees played a pivotal role in shaping the game’s foundation. However, the lack of specifics—such as the number of roles impacted or timelines for restructuring—leaves key questions unanswered.
Why This Matters
Skate’s early access launch in September 2025 marked EA’s attempt to reinvent the franchise as a live-service title, a stark departure from the beloved but defunct Skate series of the 2000s. Despite becoming the most-downloaded free-to-play game of 2025, the shift toward monetization and ongoing updates has required a leaner, more focused team. The layoffs suggest EA may be prioritizing cost-cutting over rapid expansion, a strategy that could reshape Skate’s development pace and feature roadmap.
The timing also aligns with broader concerns about EA’s financial health under new ownership. The pending acquisition deal—still pending regulatory approval—has already drawn scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, who fear the $20 billion debt burden could destabilize the publisher. If approved, EA may face pressure to reduce overhead, with Skate potentially serving as a test case for future restructuring.
What’s Next for Skate?
For players, the layoffs raise uncertainty about Skate’s full release and post-launch support. While Full Circle’s statement assures that the cuts do not reflect the quality of affected employees’ work, the move could delay content updates or limit the scope of future seasons. The studio’s commitment to ‘the things that matter most to players’ remains untested, and without clearer communication, fans may grow skeptical about EA’s long-term vision for the franchise.
Meanwhile, the broader gaming industry watches closely. EA’s dominance in 2025—with Battlefield 6, EA FC 25, and EA FC 26 leading PC and console downloads—has made it a target for both admiration and criticism. As the Skate* layoffs demonstrate, even a commercially successful live-service game is not immune to the financial realities reshaping the industry.
