Created by a team of ex-Burnout developers. Fuse Games’ upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Racer looks absolutely jaw-dropping. The in-development podracing video game appears to be the ultimate follow-up to the N64 classic Star Wars: Episode 1 – Racer, and new comments from the studio have ramped my excitement up to 11.
Largely overshadowed by the same-hour announcement of KOTOR creator Casey Hudson’s new Star Wars RPG, Galactic Racer offers single player and online multiplayer races with a variety of vehicles. While the game spreads further than just podracing, it’s very inspired by the feel of that scene from Episode 1.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Fuse Games CEO and co-founder Matt Webster—who worked on Burnout, Battlefront 2, Need for Speed Heat, and more—explained that the game is purpose-built to emphasis “the sense of speed” everyone felt when watching The Phantom Menace’s podracing scene.
“You can’t really make a Star Wars racing experience and not have Podracing, can you?” the developer said. “The core fantasy of the game is becoming an elite racing pilot in the Galactic League, and Podracing is a pinnacle of speed and racing in the Star Wars galaxy.”
Galactic Racer will include “multiple vehicle types and multiple expressions of speed” while giving fans “the ability to pilot vehicles they know and love, alongside ones they won’t have experienced before”. Webster explained that this sense of speed is only possible due to the “enormous amount of effort on the camera” with the game’s virtual cinematographer designed to emphasise the mind-bending speeds of the universe’s pulse-pounding vehicles.
Even when outside of third-person, though, as Star Wars: Galactic Racer does offer a first-person immersive view as well, the game is designed to make you feel like you’re going at impossible speeds. However, just like when little Anakin Skywalker tore up the track at Boonta Eve, players will also be forced to drive tactically, carefully taking corners to not crash into a ball of flames.
Additionally, even though the game is about the thrill of putting your life on the line for a few credits, Galactic Racer also includes vehicle customisation options that not only changes the look, but also the “performance characteristics” of your sweet ride as well.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is scheduled to release later this year for PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series. There is currently no Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game at the time of publication. For more Star Wars gaming news, check out the latest update for Star Wars: Eclipse… they’re still working on it!
