EA Layoffs Hit Skate Developer Full Circle: What's Next for the Franchise?

Ever been hyped for a game's comeback, only to watch the studio behind it get hit by layoffs? That's exactly where Skate fans are right now. EA recently slashed 400 roles across the company, and while the closure of BioWare grabbed headlines, the cuts also hit Full Circle—the team responsible for bringing Skate back after 15 years. And yeah, it's got a lot of us worried.

The layoffs went down on October 21 as part of EA's push to create a "very clear roadmap" toward a "healthier and more sustainable business." According to VGC, "many" Full Circle developers were let go, including artists Brendan Vermeltfoort and Will Granda, seasonal creative director John Epler, and senior designers Adam Martinazzi and David Milne—all of whom shared the news on LinkedIn. It's always rough when talented people lose their jobs, but this one stings extra for longtime Skate fans.

Since launching in September 2025, Skate has had its ups and downs. Season 2 felt light on content. Season 3 added a new map—but locked it behind a paywall. Season 4 gave us an empty stadium, also paywalled. Still, you could see Full Circle inching closer to sticking the landing. Season 5, which kicked off on September 8, has been a solid step forward, complete with a massive park reminiscent of Skate 3's Super Ultra Mega Park. Along the way, we've gotten new tricks, progression tweaks (some controversial), fresh gear, and plenty of bug fixes.

It was clear Full Circle—made up of devs who worked on the entire Skate franchise—wanted to make the best Skate game possible. They just needed time to cook. After all, Skate was never a live-service franchise, and it didn't need to be. But that's exactly why the layoffs are so concerning. Even though EA says it's committed to keeping Skate online (for now), the team is now much smaller—especially after Full Circle also suffered layoffs in February. Game development is hard enough; running a live-service game with fewer people sounds even tougher.

We don't know the exact number of cuts at Full Circle, but the impact is clear. I've waited over a decade for Skate to come back, and it's painful to watch it struggle because profits matter more than the people making the game. There's real good in what Full Circle has built, and they were finally hitting their stride. Here's hoping EA gives them the time and resources to realize their vision.

What do you think—can Skate survive with a smaller team, or is this a sign of trouble ahead? Will you be sticking around for future seasons?