The original trailer for Skate Story dropped over 5 years ago, and we’re finally nearing the full launch. I played through the demo on Steam several weeks ago, and the initial chapter of the game was a satisfying, psychedelic experience. The game’s minimalist, moody aesthetic and promise of deep, physics-based controls immediately set it apart as an indie masterpiece in the making. With its glass-laden environments and dreamy soundscape, the game is a must-play when it drops on December 8th.
However, while PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and even macOS users will be able to enjoy the game during its launch, there’s no word on an Xbox release yet. This is certainly a bit of a surprise, as indie darlings such as Skate Story seem to do well on Xbox Game Pass. Tag along as we talk a bit about the game and whether a release for Xbox is even in the works.
What Is Skate Story About?
Skate Story is certainly one of the most anticipated indie titles of the year, combining precision skateboarding mechanics with a hauntingly surreal narrative. The game will be published by Devolver Digital, and it’s developed solely by one person who goes by the name of Sam Eng. According to Sam’s PlayStation blog post, the game has been in development for over 5 years now.
Skate Story features a unique storyline where you play as a demon made of glass, operating under a deal with the Devil. You must skate your way to the moon and swallow it to achieve your freedom, and throughout this, you go through nine shimmering, smoke-filled layers of the Underworld. According to the game’s lore, these realms are known as The Empty Lands.
The game’s main focus is on stylish street skating, where it emphasizes flow, rhythm, and the satisfying execution of tricks. The control scheme is intuitive yet demanding and rewards players for mastering ollies, kickflips, and grinds across surreal landscapes and treacherous gaps.
Skate Story‘s striking visual and hypnotic atmosphere set it apart. It’s rendered with a minimal, ethereal glow against smoke-filled environments. All this is uniquely coupled with a mesmerizing, psychedelic soundtrack courtesy of Blood Cultures and John Fio, which creates a sense of melancholy movement that fits well with the game’s theme.
The Post-Launch Game Pass Trajectory
While Devolver is currently skipping Xbox in favor of PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, its profile suggests the possibility of a Game Pass launch down the line. Maybe the publishers want direct revenue from sales during the early launch, and they might be expecting enough interest that they don’t need to rely on Game Pass straight away.
It’s also a common trend for high-demand indie darlings to build buzz on other platforms, then debut on Game Pass to reach a new, enormous audience. Hades is a perfect example of this. The genre-defining roguelite first came to PC and Switch, only to arrive on Game Pass a year later in August 2021. Other indie games like Enter The Gungeon and Gris followed the same post-launch trajectory.
Unfortunately, we can’t say for sure now, as this is all just speculation. But given the strong foundation and visual distinctiveness, demand from the Xbox community might result in a Game Pass launch later on.
