I have a confession to make: I still play Star Wars Episode I: Racer on my Nintendo 64.
Yes, the graphics are blocky, and the controller is weird, but the sheer sense of speed in that game has rarely been matched. For years, I’ve been screaming into the void, asking why—in a world of hyper-realistic graphics—we haven’t had a proper, modern podracing game.
Well, it looks like someone finally listened.
After a confusing reveal trailer last year that left many of us scratching our heads, Star Wars: Galactic Racer has officially confirmed what we all hoped for: Podracing is back.
Here is everything we know about the game that promises to be the spiritual successor to the arcade classics we loved, and why I think this might be the sleeper hit of the year.
The Fear: A Star Wars Racing Game… Without Pods?
Let’s rewind a bit. When Galactic Racer was first announced at The Game Awards, the trailer was visually stunning. It had the atmosphere, the sounds, and even a cameo by the legendary (and villainous) Sebulba.
But there was a glaring problem. I watched that trailer frame-by-frame, and I couldn’t find a single podracer.
It felt like announcing a FIFA game without a football. The community was worried. Was this just going to be speeder bikes? Landspeeders? Generic sci-fi ships? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good speeder bike chase on Endor, but the “F1 of the Galaxy” has always been Podracing.
The Confirmation: “You Can’t Do It Without Pods”
Thankfully, the anxiety is over. Matt Webster, the CEO of Fuse Games (the studio behind the project), put the rumors to rest in a recent interview.
“Let’s face it, it’s not really possible to make a Star Wars racing game without podracing,” Webster admitted.
Hearing a developer say this is music to my ears. It confirms that they understand the source material. Webster explained that the core fantasy of the game is rising through the ranks of the Galactic League. To truly represent the “pinnacle of speed and competition” in the Star Wars universe, you simply cannot ignore the dual-engine beasts of Tatooine.
Why “Fuse Games” Matters (The Burnout Connection)
If you are wondering why I am so hyped about this specific title, it’s not just the license; it’s the team building it.
Fuse Games isn’t just a random studio. The team includes veterans who worked on the Burnout series.
If you played Burnout, you know two things:
- They understand the sensation of dangerous, white-knuckle speed better than anyone.
- They know how to make crashing feel spectacular.
Imagine applying the crash physics of Burnout to a podracer—two massive jet engines strapped to a fragile cockpit with loose cables, flying at 900 km/h. The potential for destruction and high-octane chaos here is limitless. I am expecting a racing game that feels dangerous, heavy, and incredibly fast.
More Than Just Pods: A Hybrid Racing Experience
While podracing is the headline for me, Webster made it clear that Galactic Racer isn’t a “one-trick pony.” The game aims to offer a variety of piloting experiences.
- Multiple Vehicle Classes: We are going to see a mix of iconic vehicles we know and entirely new designs created for the game.
- Different Handling Models: A sleek speeder bike handles differently than a heavy podracer. Mastering the game will likely mean mastering all forms of galactic transport.
- Single & Multiplayer: The content is spread across a narrative campaign and online modes.
I’m particularly interested in how they balance this. In a race, a podracer should theoretically smoke a landspeeder. Will there be different classes? Or is this an arcade-style “anything goes” brawl?
The Game-Changer: First-Person Mode
Here is the detail that sealed the deal for me: First-Person Cockpit View is confirmed.
In a racing game, especially one this fast, the camera angle changes everything. Third-person is great for situational awareness, but first-person? That is where the fear lives.
Imagine sitting in the cockpit, seeing the heat haze shimmering off your engines, watching the canyon walls of Tatooine blur past you in milliseconds. It changes the experience from “playing a game” to “simulating a death wish.” For true immersion, this was a mandatory feature, and I am thrilled they included it.
The Final Wish: The Boonta Eve Classic
Now that we know podracers are in, and we know the Burnout team is handling the physics, I have one final request for Fuse Games.
Give us the Boonta Eve Classic.
You know the track. The massive stadium start, the jagged canyons, the Tusken Raiders taking potshots at you from the cliffs. It is the Nürburgring of the Star Wars universe. If Galactic Racer can recreate that track with modern graphics and physics, it won’t just be a good game; it will be a classic.
Seeing Sebulba in the trailer is a strong hint that we will be returning to the sands of Tatooine, but I want the full experience.
Why This Matters
We have had a lot of Jedi games lately. swinging lightsabers is fun, and shooting blasters is satisfying. But Star Wars is also a universe of grease, gears, and speed. It’s about hot-rodding technology and pushing machines to their breaking point.
Galactic Racer feels like a return to the era where Star Wars games explored every corner of the galaxy, not just the Skywalker saga.
I’m ready to strap in. Are you?
Let me know in the comments: Which Star Wars vehicle have you always wanted to race? Personally, if they let me drift a Naboo N-1 Starfighter through a canyon, I might never play another game again.
You Might Also Like;
- A Quantum Paradox: Using “Noise” to Cool the Ultimate Computer
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer Finally Brings Back the Speed We’ve Been Waiting For
- Musk’s Orbital Brain: One Million Satellites to Power AI
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
