Apple Arcade is about to receive a new title that promises to become a huge success: Skate City: New York. Following the success of the original game in 2019, its creators have ventured into the challenging task of taking this experience to a completely new level. In this new installment, scheduled for January 9, 2025, the team has expanded the scope of the game and perfected it in every aspect, from design to mechanics, including graphics and music.
At Softonic, we had the opportunity to speak with the people responsible for the project. Joining us were Ryan Cash, CEO of Snowman, and Andrew Schimmel, Senior Producer of the company, who revealed all the details of this work that, we are sure, will be much talked about.
The essence of Skate City: Capturing a feeling
The first installment of Skate City was a love letter to the skateboarding video games many of us enjoyed in our childhood. According to the team at Snowman, their proposal focused on capturing the essence of this sport and the lifestyle surrounding it, rather than just offering a technical simulation or a challenge for our tactile skills. According to its creators, the main challenge was not just developing the game, but developing it based on mobile devices. And they certainly succeeded: Skate City was very well received by critics and managed to connect with a surprisingly wide audience, from the most nostalgic to new players.
The success of this first installment left no room for doubt: a sequel had to be made. But not just any sequel. Advancements in mobile technology and the increasing power of iPhones and iPads allowed the studio to aim higher. In the words of its creators: “We wanted something bigger, more ambitious. And what better place to set the adventure than New York?”
The city of New York represents the epicenter of skate culture, “a space where the streets themselves tell stories.” In Skate City: New York, each game will take us to explore this immense setting in a unique way, thanks to a procedural generation system that uses elements designed from real locations. This means that, although we will always be in New York, each journey will be different and unique.
More tricks, more customization, and a more lively world
One of the most recurring requests for the first game was depth in certain mechanics. The developers have listened to the players and have worked tremendously to expand the possibilities of this new installment, adding more tricks, more varied challenges, and a city that is more alive than ever. The action takes place across four large quadrants, each with its own personality and design. From the iconic skyscrapers to the tranquil urban parks, each area reflects a different aspect of the Big Apple.
In this same sense, personalization plays a key role in Skate City: New York. For the first time, we will be able to create avatars that reflect our personal style, allowing us to recreate ourselves or our favorite skaters. The variety of available options is simply impressive and allows us to adjust everything from clothing to physical features. A level of personalization, as Andrew mentioned, that seeks to deepen our connection, yes, but above all is key to capturing the inherent diversity of the skate world.
Another element that has received special attention —like all the studio’s games— is the music. The soundtrack of the first game is already timeless, but in this second installment, it has been taken to another level. The music will be more dynamic, somewhat faster, and adapted to the pace of the games, creating an atmosphere that, as we will find familiar from titles like Alto’s Odyssey, complements, supports, and highlights the action on screen.
More than a game: A comprehensive experience, thanks to Apple Arcade
One of the most notable aspects of Skate City: New York is how the title fully supports the Apple ecosystem. Designed from the ground up for devices like the iPhone and iPad, the game also shines when enjoyed on a large screen through an Apple TV. Ryan explains how the versatility of the ecosystem allows the experience to be completely authentic.
Just as a movie is best enjoyed in the cinema, where we know we are seeing exactly what the director conceived, Apple’s platforms allow us to experience exactly what the Snowman team has created.
The game design is possible, of course, thanks to the capabilities of Apple’s hardware. From touch controls to graphics processing, each element has been optimized to make the most of the devices, something that is evident in the level of detail that has been achieved. “When you see it on a TV, it almost looks like a console title,” the developers tell us.
For these reasons and to continue a saga that was born on Apple Arcade, choosing Apple’s gaming service as a platform is no coincidence. “Apple offers an ecosystem that ensures players can enjoy the game as it was conceived, without interruptions and with the best possible quality.”
What’s coming: A future full of possibilities
Although Skate City: New York already promises to be a standout title from its launch, the developers have hinted that this is just the beginning. The game will be expanding with new areas, challenges, and mechanics that will further broaden the possibilities. A strategy that ensures we as players always have something new to discover and that the game continues to evolve over time.
All in all, Skate City: New York is a natural evolution that promises to capture everything we love about skateboarding and take it to a whole new level. A game that relies on all the technology we carry in our pockets to offer us a unique, immersive, and deeply personal experience. New to the saga or can’t wait? The first version of the game —I completely agree with Ryan and Andrew— is unique and a benchmark in this type of game that we can already play.
Meanwhile, alongside games like NBA 2K25 and Balatro+, Vampire Survivors or these 5 Apple Arcade games you must play no matter what, we can start getting ready, because the next big sensation of Apple Arcade is about to arrive, and we are sure it will not leave anyone indifferent. The passion, detail, and innovation behind this project make it one of the benchmark releases on Apple Arcade. A game that goes beyond gaming. A game that reflects the love for a very special sport.
