First Draft of Formal Consumer/Community Feedback Report
(may I please have a direct feedback line on where to send this once the final draft is complete?)
Have a read, add anything you think I have misssed.
Just be aware that I have not written this for the community, I have written this for the corporate business aspect, so I've used their language and terms, which is the only way to even be glimpsed at, let alone stand a chance of being taken seriously.
And once again, for the final time, I am fully aware this will likely not amount to anything and I am wasting my time, but that has not stopped me trying.
Sincerely, thank you for your feedback so far.
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Formal Submission of Community Sentiment Report
To: Leadership and Management Teams, Electronic Arts (EA) & Full Circle
Date: February 21, 2026
Subject: Urgent Community Feedback and Strategic Risk Assessment – SKATE.
Dear Leadership/Management Team
Attached to this correspondence is a comprehensive report detailing the current state of consumer sentiment, product performance and monetization-related grievances regarding the SKATE. live-service product.
This report is the result of an analysis of community data, session logs and public discourse spanning the history of the “Early Access” lifecycle of the SKATE. live-service product and specifically covering the most recent seasonal update. While the technical foundations of the product – specifically the skating physics and server stability – remain high-performing, there is a critical and growing disconnect between the development roadmap and the expectations of the core consumer base.
The data indicates that current monetization strategies, specifically the implementation of access restrictions on map areas (e.g., Grom Island), have triggered a significant erosion of brand trust. This is being characterized by the community as a breach of previous transparency commitments. The resulting impact on player retention – highlighted by the 96.8% decline in concurrent players on Steam since peak – suggests that the current “Live Service” trajectory is at a critical juncture.
The following report provides:
- An objective analysis of what is successfully engaging the audience.
- A breakdown of the friction points causing the greatest market discourse.
- Data-driven visualizations of player churn and retention trends.
- Attainable strategic adjustments to mitigate reputational damage and stabilize the long-term player base
The intention of this document is to provide actionable insights that align the product’s revenue goals with sustainable consumer satisfaction. We believe that by addressing these core grievances, SKATE. can still achieve the longevity and cultural impact originally envisioned for the franchise.
We look forward to your review of these findings and are available to discuss the implementation of the recommended corrective measures.
Sincerely
David Catford (deepcovergeko)
Community Stakeholder Representative
Strategic Review: Community Sentiment and Product Viability – SKATE. Early Access
Executive Summary
This report synthesizes extensive community feedback, telemetry-based observations and consumer grievances regarding the current state of SKATE. (Early Access). Data indicates a significant erosion of consumer trust, primarily driven by a perceived misalignment between initial development promises and current monetization strategies. The following sections outline the product’s operational strengths, critical deficiencies and the primary drivers of community discourse.
- Current Product Performance: Positive Attributes
The community recognizes several core technical and mechanical success that serve as a foundation for the product:
- Mechanical Fluidity: Skating mechanics, grind physics and character animations are described as “buttery smooth” and naturally responsive.
- Audio-Visual Fidelity: Sound design is noted for its high quality and the aesthetic of “San Vansterdam” is generally well-received by new users.
- Accessibility and Social Infrastructre: There server capacity supports high-density player interaction with relative stability, “low-entry” skill barrier allows for broad user acquisition.
- Frequent Content Iteration: Regular additions of licensed music and cosmetic drops demonstrate an active live-service pipeline.
- Strategic Underperformance Areas
The following features are currently failing to meet consumer expectations for a modern “Skate” experience:
- Map Geometry and Verticality: Consumers report that the current map layout lacks the “bombable” hills and elevation changes characteristic of previous franchise entries.
- Lack of Competitive Systems: There is a critical absence of legacy multiplayer modes such as S.K.A.T.E., 1-Up or structured trick-line competitions.
- Creativity Constraint: The item editor is restricted to a 5-object limit and the product does not feature a “Create-A-Park” feature at all, this hinders the “sandbox” creativity central to the franchise’s identity
- Lighting and Visual Clarity: Lighting in areas without direct sunlight are reported as insufficient, complicating gameplay and video capturing in specific zones.
- Primary Drivers of Community Discourse
The following factors have caused the most significant reputational damage and consumer dissatisfaction:
- Monetization Transparency (The “Grom Island” Incident):
- - Contradictory Marketing: In 2022, developers stated: “No maps areas locked behind paywalls”.
- Current Reality: Season 3 will introduce a restricted access model for the Isle of Grom (an expanded tutorial area). Access is permanent for Premium Pass holders but requires “renting” via a 500 Rip Chip/24-hour pass for non-paying users.
- Predatory Perception: The conversion of seasonal “Tix” (preventing rollover) and the requirement to scroll past a high volume of micro-transactions to access progression menus have been labelled “predatory” by the core user base.
- Corporate Communication Failures: Official responses suggesting that “plans have to change” are perceived by the community as a lack of accountability rather than a by-product of “building in public” or “early access”.
- Strategic Recommendations for Faith Restoration
To stabilize the player base and mitigate further brand devaluation, the following steps are recommended:
- Abolish Geographic Renting: Remove the “Water Taxi” ticket system for Grom Island and revert to the “All Maps Free for All Players” commitment.
- Increase Sandbox Utility: Raise the item editor limit and implement a mission/line creator to foster user-generated content
- Refine Monetization Flow: Relink progression systems to gameplay achievements rather than forcing users through the cosmetic store-front to view status.
- Prioritize Legacy Content: Expedite the release of “Create-A-Park”, “S.K.A.T.E.” and/or “Hall of Meat” features to satisfy the core target demographic
Strategic Addendum: Cultural Context and Brand Alignment
The Socio-Cultural Dynamics of Skateboarding and Product Authenticity
Historical Context and Cultural Foundations
The skateboarding movement originated as a definitive counter-culture, defined by its resistance to traditional athletic structures and centralized authority. Historically, the community has been composed of individuals often marginalized by mainstream society, outcasts, free-thinkers and rebels who utilized the urban landscapes as a canvas for freedom of movement and radical self-expression.
In this ecosystem, status is not inherited or assigned, rather earned through meritocracy. The culture is inherently inclusive and diverse, having established a global network of acceptance based solely on a participant’s dedication to the craft and their contribution to the collective progression of the sport.
The Intersection of Skate Culture and Interactive Media
Video games have historically served as the primary digital conduit for skate culture, providing a sanctuary for expression that transcends physical limitations. However, a perennial friction exists between the organic, rebellious nature of skateboarding and the structured, bottom-line objectives of corporate entities.
Skateboarding, by its very nature, is skeptical of institutional oversight. Participants are historically adverse to corporate sentiment, viewing top-down mandates as antithetical to the “street-level” authenticity that defines the sport.
The Risk of Political and Corporate Over-reach
In the current development of SKATE., there is a visible disconnect regarding the implementation of social and political agendas. Because skateboarding culture is already fundamentally inclusive through its merit-based roots, the introduction of forced DEI frameworks or overt political messaging is often perceived by the core demographic as performative and redundant.
For a community that identifies as counter-authority, these initiatives are frequently interpreted as “corporate sanitization.” When a product prioritizes institutional agendas over the fundamental values of freedom and rebellion, it risks alienating the very outcasts who have sustained the franchise for decades.
The Strategic Opportunity for EA and Full Circle
This product has a unique opportunity to act as a bridge – not by imposing corporate values onto the culture, but by highlighting and celebrating the culture as it already exists.
To capture the “spirit” of the franchise and ensure log-term viability, the product must:
Prioritize Expression over Mandates: Allow the inherent diversity of the community to flourish organically through robust customization and merit-based progression.
Embrace the Counter-Culture: Acknowledge the grit, rebellion and “outcast” identity that makes skateboarding a unique global phenomenon.
Remove Ideological Friction: Focus on the “Freedom of the Session” rather than the corporate-led social engineering, which serves no functional purpose in a simulation dedicated to creative autonomy.
By aligning this product with the authentic and raw fundamentals of skateboarding culture, EA and Full Circle can transition from being perceived as “the authority” to be the facilitator of the world’s most resilient counter-culture.
