EA has for the first time lifted the lid on its upcoming Skate 3, stating that the third outing in its successful skateboarding series will be released on both Xbox 360 and PS3 in may next year.

The game, which is being developed by Black box, shifts the focus onto networked multiplayer gaming.

“The social and community aspects of the Skate franchise are something we’ve always embraced, but we’ve never done anything to the scale you’re going to see in Skate 3,” senior producer Jason DeLong stated.

“We’re giving gamers a very unique experience by providing them with the tools they need to build their ultimate team or to create a team comprised entirely of their online friends. From there, it’s all about proving yourself – teaming up, and throwing down.”

Those who pre-order the game will receive a code that grants exclusive access to the ‘iconic’ Black Box Distribution Skate Park.