STAR WARS: Galactic Racer Set for 2026 with Former Burnout Devs and Returning Pod Racing

When STAR WARS: Galactic Racer first appeared with the Lucasfilm Games logo at The Game Awards, you might have expected something else entirely. For a brief moment, it felt like it could be the long-rumored KOTOR remake. Instead, what you got was a brand-new arcade racing game set in the Star Wars universe. And the more details that come out, the more it looks like one of the more intriguing releases planned for 2026.

The biggest reason for that optimism is mainly the studio. Galactic Racer is being developed by Fuse Games, a studio founded in 2023. Fuse Games was formed by senior developers from Criterion Games, the team responsible for the Burnout series and several Need for Speed entries. That pedigree matters.

Matt Webster, formerly the GM at Criterion and a VP at EA, is part of the leadership group. Steve Uphill, who previously served as head of content, is also involved. Alongside them are Criterion alumni like Pete Lake, Alan McDerman, and Andreel Shers. If you have played Burnout Paradise or remember Criterion’s approach to high-speed chaos and responsive handling, you know the kind of energy this team can bring to an arcade racer. That background alone raises the ceiling for what Galactic Racer could be.

It is also notable that Fuse Games was established in 2023 and is targeting a 2026 release window for its first title. A three-year turnaround for a brand-new studio launching a full-scale licensed game is ambitious. While no specific date has been confirmed, the 2026 window and the current marketing style suggest this could land in the fall rather than early in the year.

A recent gameplay trailer shown during a State of Play event offered a clearer look at what you can expect.

The footage leans heavily into fast-paced racing with the kind of chaos and over-the-top spectacle that defined Criterion’s best work. At the same time, the Star Wars identity is unmistakable. You are not just driving cars with a sci-fi skin. You are piloting vehicles that feel tied to the universe.

One of the headline confirmations is the return of pod racing. Fuse Games made it clear that they knew a Star Wars racing game without pod racers would feel incomplete. However, the team has emphasized that they are not simply recreating the podracing seen in the past. Instead, they are reimagining it within the broader structure of Galactic Racer. Pod racers will also be fully playable alongside landspeeders, speeder bikes, and skim speeders.

The story takes place in the New Republic era, after Return of the Jedi and the Battle of Jakku. The Empire no longer controls the galaxy, leading to a rise in underground activity. The Outer Rim will feature gambling, shows, and competitions with significant risk. From all that chaos comes the Galactic League, an illegal racing circuit where syndicates pay for pilots and fortunes can change in an instant.

You play as Shade, a single racer who is out for revenge and success.

Ker Bull is an antagonist who runs the league. Darius Pax, the league organizer, asks you to help him wrest control from the Bull family and restore balance. The campaign is based on this conflict, which mixes personal reasons with the larger politics of the racing circuit.

The single-player campaign has different paths that you can take. As you move forward, you pick events that give you parts, tools, and upgrades. Those choices will affect how you build your vehicle and how you race in the future. You work with a mechanic named EBI to improve your skills by trying out different types of repulsorcraft, each with its own physics.

That structure is meant to make the game replayable by encouraging you to try different strategies and vehicle builds rather than following a single path.

You can test your skills in a number of ways besides the main campaign. Arcade mode features time trials and precision driving challenges that focus on mastering mechanics and shaving seconds off your performance. A separate scenarios mode gives you specific goals and conditions, which force you to get used to unusual race setups or goals.

Online multiplayer lets up to 12 racers compete simultaneously, which is great if you like competition. You move up the ranks, build your reputation, and compete with other players in PvP battles where your performance affects your place in the league.

From a technical standpoint, Galactic Racer is targeting 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, with cross-platform multiplayer support. At launch, Galactic Racer is scheduled for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. There is no confirmation of a Switch 2 version, but the possibility has not been ruled out.

One of the more surprising announcements concerns monetization.

Fuse Games has stated that Galactic Racer will be a premium release with no season pass at launch. The studio’s goal is to ship a complete experience from day one, and that is exactly the mindset that gets people excited for your debut title.

In a genre where post-launch DLC packs and microtransactions are common, that approach stands out. While future DLC has not been ruled out, the messaging suggests the studio is focusing on building goodwill with players for its debut title.

That strategy could pay off. Recent arcade racers, even well-received ones, have often launched with extensive DLC roadmaps or higher price points. By positioning Galactic Racer as a complete package, Fuse Games may be aiming to differentiate itself in a crowded market.

When you combine that with a popular IP and experienced developers, the foundation is strong.

The key, as always, will be execution. Arcade racing thrives on tight controls, satisfying speed, and a sense of controlled chaos. Criterion’s legacy suggests that the team understands those fundamentals. Blending that expertise with Star Wars vehicles, a narrative-driven campaign, and online multiplayer creates an opportunity to appeal to racing game fans as well as Star Wars fans.

Even if you are not deeply invested in Star Wars lore, the setting provides a backdrop that naturally supports high-speed spectacle. The idea of an underground racing league in the Outer Rim, free from the influence of the Force or prophecy and driven purely by skill and ambition, gives the game a grounded competitive focus within a larger universe.

For Fuse Games, the pressure is significant.

Galactic Racer is Fuse Games’ first release, and expectations are high given the talent they have. A new team with a proven racing pedigree, working within one of gaming’s most recognizable franchises, and committing to a complete premium package at launch is a combination that we cannot turn our eyes away from.