Skate Story just kicked open the gates of the Underworld, and it did it on PlayStation Plus from day one. Sony has dropped Sam Eng’s surreal skate odyssey into the Extra and Premium Game Catalog today, right in the holiday window. This is a bold move, and it lands with style. I have been playing on PS5 since the servers went live, and the glass feels sharp.
What you need to know
Skate Story is a solo-dev passion project with big publisher backing from Devolver Digital. You play a demon made of glass, skating through nine layers of the Underworld to eat the Moon. It sounds wild. It plays even better. The art hits like a prism, and every crash sprays glittering shards across the asphalt of the afterlife.
- Release date: December 8, 2025
- Platforms: PS5, PC on Windows and macOS, Nintendo Switch 2
- PlayStation Plus: Day one for Extra and Premium
- Core loop: learn 70 tricks, chain combos, face trick based boss fights
The vibe is strange and funny. Quirky NPCs crack jokes that cut through the gloom. A frog gives advice that almost helps. A talking trash bag nags you into landing a clean line. It is equal parts skate tape and ghost story.
Hands on with PS5, glass under your wheels
On PS5, the board feels alive. Haptics buzz for board pop, grind texture, and sketchy landings. Adaptive triggers add tension right as you snap a trick. When you nail a clean line, the pad lights pulse in sync with your speed. It is subtle, but it pushes you to chase flow.
The trick list is stacked and readable. Ollie, kickflip, heelflip, impossibles, manuals, grinds, and late spins all connect cleanly. The game teaches with short, tight loops. Fail, reset fast, try again. Boss encounters flip the script. You damage foes by landing specific lines, then capping them with a heavy finisher. Mess up the timing, and your demon shatters. Respawn, exhale, lock it in.
Customization matters. Boards wear down over time, stickers scratch, trucks spark during long grinds. Style becomes momentum. You look cooler as you get better, and you skate better because you look cooler. That feedback loop hits.
Turn on Trigger Effect Intensity in the controller settings. It helps you feel pop timing during late flips and combo finishers.
Day one on PlayStation Plus, and why that matters
This is not a filler drop. Sony put an unconventional indie front and center in December. Day one access lowers the barrier for curious players, and it pushes variety into the catalog. Skate Story sits next to the big guns without blinking. It feels like a statement, quality first, even when the pitch is weird in the best way.
For a solo developer, this kind of visibility is huge. The holiday window is crowded, but subscriptions change the rules. One click, no extra cost for subscribers, and you are carving through the first layer of the Underworld. If Sony keeps doing this, the catalog becomes a place to discover new voices, not just revisit known hits.
PlayStation Plus availability requires the Extra or Premium tier. If you are on Essential, you can still buy the game separately on PS5.
Player stories from launch night
After a few hours, here is what stands out. New players land their first kickflips in minutes, thanks to short goal posts and forgiving checkpoints. Skilled riders are already chasing long lines through hidden cut-throughs and riskier rails. The level design rewards speed and curiosity. Momentum is king, but control wins fights.
The Underworld layers each have a mood. One is a neon highway, another is a haunted plaza that loops on itself until you thread a perfect grind. The humor keeps the darkness light. A millipede train laughs when you bail. Then it challenges you to grind its back without breaking. The soundtrack leans into thump and haze. It keeps your head nodding while your hands sweat.
PC and Switch 2 launched the same day. Progress does not carry across platforms. Each version stands on its own right now.
What this means for the industry
Sony wants PlayStation Plus to feel curated, not crowded. Skate Story proves the point. If subscription drops keep mixing bold indies with big classics, players win. Studios win too. These launch deals create space for artful risks, and they give smaller teams a real shot at breakout status.
For the skate genre, this is a fresh lane. It is not a sim, and it is not pure arcade. It treats tricks like language, then makes you speak that language in combat, exploration, and story. That is new, and it feels important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Skate Story included with PlayStation Plus?
A: Yes, it is available day one in the Game Catalog for Extra and Premium members.
Q: Can I play it on PS4?
A: No. It is a native PS5 release on console.
Q: How many tricks are in the game?
A: Around 70, with room to chain and remix into longer lines.
Q: Does it support DualSense features?
A: Yes. Haptics, adaptive triggers, and controller light cues enhance timing and flow.
Q: Can I buy it outright if I do not have Extra or Premium?
A: Yes. You can purchase it on PS5, PC, or Nintendo Switch 2.
Conclusion
Skate Story is live, sharp, and unafraid. Sony making it a PlayStation Plus day one drop signals a real commitment to variety, and it gives a solo dev the spotlight during prime time. Lace up, drop in, and try not to shatter. The Moon is waiting.
