How to install and play SkateGM (Skate 3 in Garry's Mod)

Step by step: the x86-64 Garry's Mod branch, the Workshop add-on, converting your Skate 3 disc with the installer, controls, minigames, Skate 3 maps and multiplayer.

SkateGM runs Skate 3’s board physics, tricks and scoring inside Garry’s Mod. This guide follows 9.0 from the-schwilliam/SkateGM. There’s also an official installation tutorial on YouTube. New to mods? Read Start here first.

1. What you need

Windows and Garry’s Mod on the x86-64 branch: in Steam, right-click Garry’s Mod > Properties > Betas and choose x86-64.
Your own Xbox 360 copy of Skate 3, dumped by you: the disc image (.iso) or an extracted folder with default.xex. Nothing from Skate 3 is included.
A controller works best (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro and most others). Keyboard works too.

2. Install

Subscribe to SkateGM on the Steam Workshop.
Download SkateGM-Setup-<version>.exe from the latest release.
Close Garry’s Mod and run the installer.
Pick your Skate 3 .iso (or default.xex) and press Install. It converts your game files on your PC and installs the engine module, which the Workshop can’t carry. If it can’t find Garry’s Mod, choose the folder that has garrysmod in it.
Optional: tick Generate maps (slow) to build Skate 3’s parks as Garry’s Mod maps (10–15 minutes for all of them).

Not using the Workshop? Tick Install add-on and the installer installs the add-on too.

3. Play

SkateGM gamemode: pick it from the gamemode list. Every player is put in Skater mode.
Any other gamemode: open the console and type bind j skategm_toggle once. J then switches Skater mode on and off.

The first start takes a while to load. Controller not working? Turn off Steam Input for Garry’s Mod (Properties > Controller > Disable Steam Input).

4. Controls

Skate 3’s own controller controls work as in the game. Hold LB for the extras:

Button	Does
LB + D-pad down / up	Set a marker / hold to go back to it
LB + D-pad left	Minigames: host or join
LB + D-pad right	Players: spectate, teleport to or join someone
LB + right stick	Skate 3 music: pause/play, skip, restart, volume
LB + A	Settings
LB + Y	Map
LB + B	Park editor
LB + X	Respawn
LB + RB	Replays
Hold right stick click	Rocket board (if on in Settings > Board)

On keyboard: W/Space push, S brake, A/D steer, Q/E grabs, F on/off board, arrow keys flick-it tricks, R respawn, Ctrl rocket board, Z menu. The README has the full table.

5. Minigames and maps

Host a minigame with LB + D-pad left. There are 22, including Race, S.K.A.T.E., Hot Potato, Hall of Meat, Trick Bingo, Copycat and Board Golf. If you built the maps, they show up as sgm_skate3_portcarverton (all of Port Carverton), sgm_skate3_university, sgm_skate3_maloof and others. sgm_skate2_newsanvan needs your Skate 2 disc too.

6. Multiplayer

Everyone who wants to skate subscribes on the Workshop and runs the installer on their own PC. A dedicated server only needs the add-on. To host a Skate 3 map, copy garrysmod/addons/skategm_maps from a PC that built it.

7. Update and uninstall

Steam updates the add-on. Run a new installer when SkateGM says its engine module is older than the add-on, and tick “Keep the game data I already converted” to skip the conversion. To uninstall, unsubscribe, then run the installer and press Uninstall.