Star Wars: Galactic Racer expands the universe beyond podracing

One of the most exhilarating demos at Summer Game Fest 2026 was for Star Wars: Galactic Racer.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is an upcoming racing game inspired by the beloved podracing game that graced consoles in the late 90s. However, this game goes beyond the scope of Tatooine, taking players on a high-speed journey across the galaxy.

Playing as a created character, my journey began in Jakku, the desert planet originally featured in The Force Awakens. I was a participant in the Galactic League, a racing circuit in the Outer Rim. I was tasked with taking down Kestar Bool, a dominant racer with evil intentions.

Jumping into my first race, I was shocked by how immersive Galactic Racer feels. The rumble of the vehicle, the banter from other racers, and there’s even a quick-time event when you start your engine that can provide boosts to speed and shields.

Galactic Racer features an assortment of different Star Wars vehicles, including speederbikes, landspeeders, skimspeeders, and, of course, podracers. There’s a clear distinction between each vehicle type and how they handle during a race.

As you pass other racers, they’ll curse you and shout in frustration. If you hit an enemy hard enough or knock them into a barrier, they’ll explode in slow motion. It felt a lot like Burnout. Of course, you’re also vulnerable and can get destroyed if you crash into a barrier or get rammed while your shields are down.

After the race, I earned parts that could be used to upgrade my vehicle. I also had the chance to apply perks to improve my speed, handling, and shields. Between races, there was even a brief segment where I was on foot, walking around an area where I could visit shops and talk to characters before my next race. The story eventually took me to Lantaana, a jungle planet.

Despite a great effort to expand the idea of Star Wars racing beyond podracing, Galactic Racer does feature a mode dedicated to the beloved sequence from The Phantom Menace. Being back on Tatooine and hearing the strained roar of a podracer on a modern console with modern visuals was astonishing. This race also lives up to the high-speed nature of the source material, as I crashed more times than I did in any other race.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is taking cues from classic arcade racing games and modernizing them. It’s unlike any Star Wars spin-off released in recent memory, and I look forward to seeing how it all comes together on October 6, 2026. For more on the racing games featured at Summer Game Fest this year, read Ozzie’s thoughts on Hot Wheels Infinite Rush and Clutch.

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