Skatesterre: Where Classic Arcade Skateboarding Meets a New Generation

Skatesterre, developed by Headup in collaboration with Goon Squad, is an arcade skateboarding game designed to revive the accessible, high-energy feel of early skateboarding titles like *Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater* and *Grind Session*. The game prioritizes intuitive controls and a pick-up-and-play experience over realistic simulation, aiming to make players feel like skilled skaters quickly. Development focused on capturing the core joy of classic arcade skateboarding while incorporating modern quality-of-life features and character customization options. The team leveraged Unreal Engine’s latest tools to achieve this balance.

The game’s visual identity and character design were shaped by Sterre Meijer, a professional skateboarder known for her distinctive style and advocacy for women in skateboarding. Headup’s producer, Dieter, reached out to Meijer after following her career, seeing her as a natural fit for the project. Meijer’s involvement extended beyond aesthetics; her energy and authenticity influenced the game’s playful, unconventional tone. The development team even revised the character model multiple times to ensure her representation felt authentic, reflecting her independent approach to skateboarding.

Skatesterre emphasizes experimentation and personal expression, encouraging players to find their own style rather than adhering to rigid objectives. Levels are designed to be experienced as continuous lines rather than segmented obstacles, rewarding creativity and fluid trick sequences. The game’s design philosophy mirrors Meijer’s own skating ethos, which rejects conventional expectations in favor of individuality. This approach aims to make the game feel fresh yet familiar to fans of classic arcade skateboarding.

Available now on Xbox Series X|S, Skatesterre seeks to capture the simple joy of skateboarding—practicing tricks, improving skills, and enjoying the ride. The developers hope the game’s accessibility and vibrant style will appeal to both longtime fans of the genre and new players. Dieter emphasizes that the ultimate goal is to create an experience that makes players want to return for “one more run,” echoing the addictive, low-frustration appeal of the arcade skateboarding games that inspired it.