Full Circle, the developer of the Skate game, is restructuring and laying off staff less than six months after its early access launch. The changes aim to support the game's long-term future as a free-to-play live-service title. The studio, formed by Electronic Arts in 2021, has acknowledged the impact on affected employees.
Full Circle revealed on February 25, 2026, that it is undergoing a restructuring that includes layoffs. This comes shortly after Skate entered early access on September 15, 2025. The game, a reboot of the franchise, has attracted tens of millions of players but operates as a free-to-play live-service experience supported by microtransactions, differing from the paid single-player and multiplayer modes of previous Skate titles.
In a statement, Full Circle said: "We’re reshaping Full Circle to better support skate.’s long-term future. These shifts mean making changes to our team structure, and some roles will be impacted. The teammates affected are talented colleagues and friends who helped build the foundation of skate. Their creativity and dedication are deeply ingrained in what players experience today. This decision is not a reflection of their impact and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition."
The studio was established in 2021 by Electronic Arts, drawing talent from the original Skate development team. Skate was historically positioned as a realistic alternative to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series. Engadget has reached out to EA, Full Circle's owner, for further details on the number of roles affected.
The announcement occurs amid broader challenges in launching live-service games, as seen in the failure of Concord and the ongoing issues with Highguard. While player numbers are high, retaining engagement and revenue from microtransactions may be influencing the restructuring.
