Highlights
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives in 2026 from the creators of Burnout.
- This spiritual successor to Episode I Racer features a punishing "one wreck and it's over" mechanic.
- Players will compete in the lawless Outer Rim against iconic rivals like Sebulba.
A new era of high-speed vehicular combat is coming to the galaxy far, far away. Officially announced Thursday night at The Game Awards 2025, Star Wars: Galactic Racer promises to bring a gritty, arcade-style racing experience to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2026. Published by Secret Mode, the title is being developed by Fuse Games, a British studio founded by the veteran talent behind the genre-defining Burnout and Need for Speed franchises.
This announcement marks a distinct departure from the Jedi-focused adventures that have dominated the franchise recently. While a second Star Wars game was also teased at the awards, hinting at a single-player RPG, Galactic Racer steers into a completely different lane. Described as a spiritual successor to the classic Star Wars: Episode I Racer, this title focuses entirely on the unsanctioned, high-stakes thrill of underground racing.
High-Stakes Racing in the Outer Rim
Set in the lawless Outer Rim following the fall of the Empire, Galactic Racer takes place during the same time period as the sequel trilogy. The announcement trailer revealed a "runs-based" structure where players pilot landspeeders and speeder bikes through treacherous environments, including the dusty tracks of Jakku.
The gameplay is designed to be punishing; if you wreck once, your run is over. This adds a layer of tension similar to modern roguelike games, where every crash has serious consequences.
Fuse Games, established in 2023, is led by Matt Webster, the former general manager of Criterion Games. With the team composed of developers who worked on Burnout Paradise and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, they aim to channel their expertise into the Star Wars universe. Webster stated, “Our races are high-stakes competitions where racers do everything they can to get to the front in the solo campaign and in our awesome multiplayer gameplay.”
The game also pays homage to its roots with a confirmed appearance by Sebulba, the iconic Dug podracer from The Phantom Menace. "There’s so much love for Sebulba on the team and across the Star Wars community," Webster said. "There are particular reasons why he finds his way into our trailer as well as a detail in this shot that may lead to even more questions…the answers to which we’ll have to leave to another time!"
By focusing on precision driving, vehicle customization, and "roguelike" decision-making rather than lightsabers, Galactic Racer looks to carve out a unique space in the crowded gaming landscape. With a release scheduled for 2026, fans have plenty of time to prepare for what promises to be the most chaotic racing title in the galaxy since the early 2000s.
