There was no way Star Wars: Galactic Racer was going to avoid comparisons to Star Wars Episode I: Racer and Star Wars Racer Revenge. The second you show Star Wars fans high-speed racing, podracers, Tatooine, and Sebulba, that connection is going to happen. However, after getting hands-on with Star Wars: Galactic Racer during Summer Game Fest 2026, it became clear that Fuse Games is trying to do more than simply bring podracing back.
Instead, Star Wars: Galactic Racer is shaping up to be a full racing game with a campaign, upgrades, multiple vehicle types, chaotic AI, survival races, arcade challenges, and yes, plenty of podracing. It also brings in a roguelike-style campaign path system, which gives the game more replay value than I expected going in. So, ahead of its release, here is everything we know about Star Wars: Galactic Racer so far.
What Is Star Wars: Galactic Racer?
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a high-speed racing game set in the Star Wars universe, developed by Fuse Games and published by Secret Mode. The game takes place after the fall of the Empire, with the galaxy rebuilding and the Galactic Racing League rising as an underground, unsanctioned racing circuit in the Outer Rim.
You play as Shade, a silent protagonist who gets pulled into the Galactic Racing League after delivering a ship to Darius Pax, the owner of the league. From there, Shade becomes involved in Darius’ attempt to push back against Kestar Boon, the league’s champion, who appears to be gaining more power and influence.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer Release Date, Platforms, Editions, And Pricing
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is currently scheduled to be released on October 6, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. That means this is a current-gen-only release, with no PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch version announced as of this writing.
There will also be a few different editions available at launch:
- The Standard Edition is priced at $59.99 and includes a copy of the game. Simple enough.
- The Deluxe Edition is priced at $79.99 and comes with three bonus vehicles: the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, Kor Sarun: Ciza T speeder bike, and Kor Sarun: Rak S skim speeder. It also includes three deluxe Arcade events, the Deluxe Livery Pack, Deluxe Player Banner Pack, and a Digital Art Book.
- The $159.99 physical Collector’s Edition is planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. This version includes a physical model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, a physical banner, two pilot patches, a physical copy of the Digital Art Book, a custom slip cover, and a steel case.
If you are curious about the Collector’s Edition, sadly, it appears to be sold out. Your best chance at this point may be checking eBay, but be prepared for sticker shock.
How The Campaign Works
The campaign in Star Wars: Galactic Racer is not just a standard list of races. During our hands-on time, we were able to start from the beginning of the campaign, where the opening race also acts as the tutorial. From there, the game introduces its roguelike-style campaign path system, where Shade receives a token that allows them to race in the Galactic Racing League.
Once you are in the league, you are presented with different paths to choose from, with each route offering different races, events, rewards, and challenges. Some races are about survival, some are about completing specific requirements, and others focus on eliminating the competition. This gives the campaign more replay value, since your route through the league can change depending on the choices you make.
There is also some risk involved. If you lose your token, your current run through the Galactic Racing League comes to an end, forcing you to start over. However, the currency and upgrades you earn can still help make your next run better, which gives Star Wars: Galactic Racer that “one more run” feeling instead of making every loss feel like a complete waste of time.
This Is Not Just About Winning Races
One of the more interesting parts of Star Wars: Galactic Racer is that not every race is simply about coming in first place. In the opening survival race, the goal was to survive against 12 racers, not just win. On normal difficulty, you get three lives to finish a race, while harder difficulties give you fewer chances.
That matters because the AI is aggressive. Racers will shove you, slam you into walls, and even slow down from jumps just to land on top of you. It gives the races a chaotic feel, where staying alive can be just as important as being fast.
Vehicles, Upgrades, And Drifting
Star Wars: Galactic Racer includes more than podracers. The campaign lets players race with different vehicle types, including speeders, skims, and landspeeders. After races, you can earn points and currency that can be used to improve your ship or buy a different one entirely.
During our hands-on time, drifting stood out immediately. By braking while turning, you can swing your ship around sharp corners with a surprising amount of control. When timed correctly, it almost feels like you can snap your ship into a 90-degree turn, which makes tight corners feel exciting instead of frustrating.
Honestly, just like everyone has been saying, it plays surprisingly close to Burnout. And I have been missing that series for a very long time now, so I am glad to see we are getting a game that is in the same vein as that beloved racer.
Podracing Is Still A Big Deal
Of course, podracing is still part of the package. In Arcade Mode, we were able to try podracing missions, including one with Sebulba on Boonta Eve. These races are much faster than the campaign races, with Sebulba’s podracer reaching speeds around 1000 km/h compared to the roughly 600 km/h speeds seen with some campaign ships.
We also played a race with Ben Quadinaros, whose massive podracer felt like pure chaos. Instead of focusing only on speed, his vehicle was great at smashing other racers into walls, knocking them off cliffs, and turning the track into a pile of scrap metal. That alone made Arcade Mode feel like more than a simple side option.
Will Star Wars: Galactic Racer Support Multiplayer And Crossplay?
Yes, Star Wars: Galactic Racer will support up to 12 players online, along with an online ranking system. Both Arcade and PvP races will also be playable through multiplayer, giving players more ways to compete outside of the main campaign.
The game will also support crossplay across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. That should make it easier to find races, regardless of which platform you decide to play on.
Why Star Wars: Galactic Racer Has Our Attention
The biggest surprise from our hands-on time with Star Wars: Galactic Racer is that it does not feel like a quick licensed Star Wars game. It feels like Fuse Games is building a real racing game first, then using the Star Wars universe to make it even more exciting.
The racing feels fast, the drifting feels great, the campaign structure adds replay value, and the arcade podracing gives longtime fans something familiar to latch onto. We still need to see how the full game holds up, but after playing it, Star Wars: Galactic Racer has gone from “hey, podracing is back” to one of the more interesting racing games currently on the calendar.
