Game intel
Skate Story
Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of the Underworld as you take on a seemingly impossible quest. Skate fast to destroy demons and s…
This matters because a small, artist‑driven game – Skate Story, by Sam Eng – is getting the kind of launch treatment we usually reserve for big publishers: day‑one availability on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium on December 8. If you’re a PS Plus subscriber, you’ll be able to download and try a strange, eerie skate‑through‑a‑dreamland without paying extra. That’s great for players; it’s a sign Sony is leaning hard into bolstering PS Plus with indie first‑day drops. It also raises some questions about how small teams get paid and how discoverability works when a title is immediately behind a subscription wall.
Skate Story isn’t a run‑of‑the‑mill sports game. You play as a glass demon who skates through subterranean landscapes chasing a light toward the Moon — it has a poetic, melancholic premise and an art direction that’s more art gallery than skate park. Those are the kinds of experiments I want big services to surface. Sony putting this in PS Plus day‑one is a clear statement: they want unique indies to be part of the subscription narrative, not just throwaway installments between AAA releases.
Officially: Skate Story launches December 8 and will be included in PS Plus Extra and Premium on day one. The PS5 build takes advantage of the DualSense controller for extra tactile feedback; DualSense haptics and adaptive triggers are being used to enhance skateboarding sensation and surface differences. Devolver is attached as publisher in the announcement cycle, and the game will also be available on PC and Nintendo Switch — so this isn’t a PlayStation exclusive, just a PlayStation‑first subscription appearance.
We’re in a phase where platform holders are trying to convince consumers their subscription services are indispensable. Microsoft has long used Game Pass to anchor purchases; Sony’s response has been to fold more curated indie and mid‑sized titles into PS Plus Extra/Premium at launch. For players, that’s obvious value: instant access to something new and unexpected without spending extra. For developers, the calculus is trickier — day‑one inclusion can massively increase player numbers but can also complicate revenue and discoverability on storefronts where sales data matters.
If you’re on PS5 and subscribed to PS Plus Extra or Premium, mark December 8. Expect a short, atmospheric experience focused on flow and mood rather than high‑score competition. Use the DualSense: the haptics are explicitly mentioned as part of the PS5 version, so don’t assume it’s just a patch‑work port. On Switch and PC you’ll still get the game, but the tactile nuances will be different. Treat this like an interactive short — explore, savor the visuals, and don’t rush for speedruns unless you dig scoring systems.
I’m happy to see Sony elevating creative indies into the subscription spotlight — Skate Story looks like the kind of risk that deserves lots of players. That said, I’m skeptical about the long‑term effects if day‑one subscription deals become the default. Will developers get fair compensation? Will unique games become hidden behind monthlies where their cultural moment is flattened? For now, players win: you can try an original, tactile indie for free as part of your subscription. Developers and the ecosystem will be the ones to watch.
Skate Story lands on PS Plus Extra/Premium on Dec. 8 and the PS5 build uses DualSense features. It’s a beautiful, odd indie skate tale that’s easy to try if you subscribe — a clear win for players and a nuanced one for indie developers navigating the subscription era.
Get access to exclusive strategies, hidden tips, and pro-level insights that we don't share publicly.
Ultimate Gaming Strategy Guide + Weekly Pro Tips