Following Skate.’s early access release in 2025, many players have encountered a frustrating issue where the game never progresses past the loading screen. The screen typically displays a skateboard animation or remains black indefinitely, leaving players unable to reach the main menu or join servers.

Skate stuck on loading screen
by u/Alphakarton in Skate4

EA and Full Circle have officially acknowledged the bug on their community forums, confirming that the “infinite loading screen” issue affects multiple platforms, particularly Xbox and PC users. Reports show that it often occurs when attempting to connect to the San Van servers, which host the game’s online sessions.

Why Skate gets stuck on the loading screen

The exact cause can vary by player setup, but community testing and developer updates suggest several common factors that contribute to the issue.

Cause Description
Server connectivity issues The most common cause. EA’s servers have struggled with heavy traffic since launch, leading to failed connections that trap players in endless loading.
Corrupted or missing game files Damaged installations can prevent assets or startup scripts from loading correctly. Verifying or reinstalling helps in these cases.
Slow or faulty storage Running Skate. from an HDD rather than an SSD can extend load times or cause hangs when files fail to stream properly.
Driver or system conflicts Outdated graphics drivers or missing dependencies (DirectX, Visual C++ Redistributables) can block proper game initialization.
Software overlays and background apps Apps like Discord, Xbox Game Bar, or Steam Overlay can interfere with resource loading or cause rendering conflicts.
Cache or shader corruption Faulty configuration or shader cache files may cause the game to loop during launch.

How to fix Skate's infinite loading screen

Here are some fixes that you can try.

Fix 1: Use both Steam and EA App installations

The most successful workaround involves using both Steam and EA App installations simultaneously. Players report significant success with this dual-launcher approach.

Step 1

Download and install Skate through the EA App if you currently use Steam.

Step 2

Note the installation path (typically C:\Program Files\EA Games\skate.).​

Step 3

Begin installing Skate through Steam and select the same installation folder as the EA App version.

Step 4

Steam will detect existing files and verify them rather than downloading the entire game again.​

Step 5

Launch the game through Steam after verification completes to resolve the infinite loading screen.​

Via Steamcommunity

Fix 2: Verify and repair game files

For Steam users, open the Steam app and go to Library. Right-click Skate in your Steam library and select Properties.​

Navigate to the Installed Files tab and click Verify Integrity of Game Files.​

Wait for Steam to complete the verification process, which will automatically download any missing or corrupted files.​

When it's done, it will show ths result.

For EA App users, go to My Collection, right-click Skate, and select Repair.​

When done repairing on Steam or EA app, restart your system before attempting to launch the game.

Fix 3: Disable overlays and background applications

Step 1

Open Steam settings and navigate to the In-Game section to disable Steam Overlay.

Step 2

Close Discord or disable Discord Overlay through the application's settings.​

Step 3

Turn off Xbox Game Bar in Windows settings under Gaming options.​

Step 4

Open Task Manager and close unnecessary background applications consuming CPU or memory resources.​

Step 5

Temporarily disable antivirus software or add Skate to the exclusion list.

Fix 4: Clear cache and shader files

Step 1

Press Win + R and type %ProgramData%/EA Desktop for EA App users.

Step 2

Delete cache folders found in the EA Desktop directory.

Step 3

For Steam users, go to Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache.

Step 4

Navigate to your Skate installation directory and delete shader cache folders if present.

Step 5

Restart both the launcher and your system to rebuild fresh cache files.

Fix 5: Update graphics drivers

Step 1

Open Device Manager by pressing Windows key and typing "Device Manager".

Step 2

Expand the Display Adapters section and right-click your graphics card and select Properties. Next, selct Update Driver.

Step 3

Choose Search automatically for drivers.

You can also download the drivers manually.

Step 4

For NVIDIA users, download the latest drivers directly from the NVIDIA website or use GeForce Experience.​

Step 5

For AMD users, download the drivers from the website or use the Radeon software to update drivers automatically.

Step 6

Restart your computer after driver installation completes.

Fix 6: Make display and compatibility adjustments

Adjusting display settings can resolve loading conflicts related to resolution or refresh rate mismatches.

Step 1

Right-click the Skate executable and select Properties.

Step 2

Navigate to the Compatibility tab and enable Run this program as administrator.

Step 3

Try enabling Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Step 4

Launch the game in Windowed Mode initially to bypass fullscreen conflicts.​

Step 5

Temporarily disable HDR settings if enabled on your display.

Fix 7: Console-specific solutions

Xbox and PlayStation users face similar loading issues with platform-specific solutions.

Step 1

For Xbox users, perform a complete console restart by holding the power button for 10 seconds.

Step 2

Clear the MAC address by navigating to Settings > Network > Advanced Settings.

Step 3

PlayStation 5 users should disable crossplay and other optional settings through the game's pause menu.​

Step 4

Upload and download saved data through PlayStation's cloud save system.​

Step 5

Uninstall and reinstall the game if other methods fail, ensuring a clean installation.

Platform Primary Solution Success Rate
Steam Dual launcher method High
EA App File verification Moderate
Xbox Hard reset + MAC clear Moderate
PlayStation Settings adjustment Variable

Latest updates and ongoing fixes

EA and Full Circle released Update 0.28.0 on October 7, 2025, specifically addressing stability improvements and crash bugs. The patch notes indicate "significant number of crash bugs" have been resolved, though loading screen issues persist for some players.

The development team continues tracking loading issues, with official acknowledgment that players are "getting stuck in loading into San Vansterdam". EA recommends ensuring the game remains updated through repair installations as a primary troubleshooting step.

Server improvements are ongoing, with EA adding capacity to handle the massive player influx following Season 1's launch. Queue systems remain active during peak hours to manage server load and prevent widespread loading failures.

Performance optimization tips for Skate.

Beyond the primary fixes, several optimization strategies can improve loading stability. Installing Skate on an SSD significantly reduces loading times and potential timeout issues. Setting Windows to High Performance Mode prevents system throttling that can interrupt loading processes.

Maintaining a stable internet connection proves crucial given the game's always-online requirement. Players with unstable connections should consider using wired ethernet instead of Wi-Fi to minimize connection drops during loading.

Ensuring adequate system RAM prevents memory-related crashes during loading. Players with 8GB or less RAM should close all unnecessary applications before launching Skate to maximize available memory.

Players experiencing persistent problems should monitor EA's official forums and social media for real-time updates on server status and emergency fixes. The community-driven solutions often appear faster than official patches, making player forums valuable resources for immediate workarounds