As you’re probably aware, the plot revolves around participating in the Galactic League as the mysterious Shade, seeking revenge. How you’ll get there is completely up to you, as Game Informer’s latest gameplay highlights a Slay the Spire-style branching map to traverse. It allows for choosing which event types to tackle, be it a traditional race against 12 competitors or a Field Test where you need to beat the clock with an experimental vehicle.

Progressing further opens up new locations and rewards, including an Upgrade Pack, Kit Points, Credits, and a Part Pack. You can upgrade the cornering, improve Resilience for better shields, and so on. Some upgrades may even offer exceptional benefits with a twist – like Overcharged Systems, where a System Malfunction can Overcharge your vehicle for ten seconds. Of course, some races won’t offer anything if you don’t hit first place, so beware.

It’s all very compelling and adds even more replay value than expected, especially when trying out different kinds of vehicles or trying unique builds. Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives on October 6th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and we can’t wait to dive into everything it has to offer.

It’s quite the list, and we’re sure that you share our excitement for a majority of them. Without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

Getting to return to the Caribbean to join Edward Kenway on his epic journey from a callous pirate to a noble Assassin is definitely something we’re very excited about. A revamped combat system, some extra story cutscenes, and those delightful visuals are just icing on the cake. This one comes out on July 9, 2026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

2. EA Sports College Football 27

The College Football franchise has been doing quite well for itself in recent years, and we don’t see why this year should be any different. We already know it’s bringing quite the roster for us to enjoy, with some very attractive goodies for those who pre-order any of its editions. Once again, it releases on July 9, 026, for the PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC.

3. Palworld 1.0 Release

We were blown away by the cinematic trailer that this one dropped recently, and it showcases stunning new locations with fascinating creatures for us to collect over the course of our adventure. It’s touted to be the game’s biggest update yet, and is sure to bring a lot of exciting new additions to the table as it brings us to the story’s finale when it drops on July 10, 2026, for all available platforms.

4. Splatoon Raiders

Getting to join a pirate musician group that’s raiding the Spirhalite Islands for treasure? Sign us up! Yesterday’s Direct showcase gave us quite a good look at this one, and it only made us all the more excited to try out its paint-based weapons, great progression systems, and of course, the Exploration Bot. Talk about the efficient use of tech. It’s slated for a June 30 release on the Switch 2.

5. Halo: Campaign Evolved

We’re still not over that awesome trailer that showed off the new Covenant faction, some very interesting footage from the new prequel missions, and of course, the return of Master Chief. The new weapons are equally intriguing, and we can’t wait to dive in and get blasting when this one releases for the XBOX Series X|S, PC, and PS5 on July 28 this year.

6. Beast of Reincarnation

Any journey that gives you a furry friend for company is definitely worth undertaking, in our book. When you combine that with some parry-focused Soulslike action and a very cool set of powers for Emma, the game’s protagonist, you get the recipe for a game that’s sure to have us grinding our teeth in frustration but determined to end whatever the Hush throws at us. It’s slated to release on August 4 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

7. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls

With a starting roster that brings some of Marvel’s best to the table for an action-packed gameplay loop, this one is definitely going to keep us occupied for quite a while. We’re particularly interested in the Episode Mode, where you participate against the enigmatic Champion in a Tournament where you’re surely going to have to bring your best skills to the table. Look our for this one on August 6 on your PC or PS5.

8. Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honour

An expansion that doubles up on the nostalgia factor that put this one on the map in the first place is certainly welcome. It’s even better when it gives us a look at Don Salieri’s early days before his time in America that set the entire franchise in motion. The trailer was pretty interesting despite being a little to stingy with details, but it did tell us that this one’s releasing on August 14, 2026, on all available platforms.

9. The Sinking City 2

Lovecraftian adventures are always a great combination of thrills and chills, and the Slither is looking like a foe you don’t want to tangle with unless you’re Calvin Rafferty. Of course, the Deep Ones and Shadows are equally credible threats, and we’re quite curious to see how this one has us dealing with them when it comes out on August 18 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S. There’s even a playable demo on Steam if you want to try it before buying it.

10. Hell Let Loose: Vietnam

We were pretty bummed about this one getting delayed to August 13 but do appreciate Team 17 taking player feedback and the results from its own playtests seriously enough to ask for more time to further polish this one before releasing it for all of us. We’re hoping it builds on everything that was good about its predecessor while adding interesting new twists to the table.

11. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2

If you’ve been with us for a while, you probably already guessed that this one is definitely something we’re eager to dive into. The chance to revisit two titles that cemented our love for the franchise is very welcome, and Solid Snake’s final chapter is the one that has us as excited as we are. Of course, Peace Walker is also something we’re eager to play again, and it’s going to be a difficult choice between them then this one drops on August 27 this year for the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and the Switch 2.

12. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy

Sophie was among the more interesting characters in Requiem, and her role in Amicia and Hugo’s adventure in that one presented her as a complex and nuanced character. It’s only logical, then, that a look into her early days as a headstrong young smuggler exploring Minotaur Island has us itching to get started with it already. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long until this one drops on August 27, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series.

13. Star Wars Zero Company

A ragtag group of mercenaries that include a Jedi, a noble, a droid, and a former Separatist embarking on an adventure set during the Clone Wars is music to the ears of any Star Wars fan, and we’re no exception. The addition of Anakin Skywalker before his turn to the Dark Side is another interesting twist that makes this one a very compelling addition to this list. It’s out on August 27 this year for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

14. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition

The wait for this one has been a long one, but it’s finally coming out on August 28 this year on all available platforms and the Nintendo Switch 2. There’s new weapons, armor, and a very welcome option to customize Torrent being added to the base game and its DLC, and it’s as good a reason as any for us to begin a new playthrough in the run-up to its release. We’re pretty excited, even if that means taking on the Blade of Miquella yet again.

15. EA Sports Madden NFL 27

We were already looking forward to this one before EA highlighted how the Persona Engine is gearing up to make each athlete feel quite unique when they step onto the pitch, aside from the Superstar GOAT progression path giving us a reason to keep coming back to it for more. And that’s only the beginning of all the cool stuff this one’s bringing to the franchise when it releases on August 13, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S.

16. The Blood of Dawnwalker

We’ve been very eager to play this one ever since it was first announced, and the wait for its September 3 release has been tantalizing at best, and agonizing every time we’ve got a new glimpse of its gameplay. Of course, the latest trailer has only exacerbated those feelings as we got to see Coen and Brencis’s fight transcend the passage of time, just as vampires should, making this one a game we’re going to be diving head-first into as soon as we get the chance.

17. Valheim 1.0 Release

The Deep North update and the end of this one’s Early Access period as it makes its PS5 and Switch 2 debut has us very interested in learning what new additions it’s bringing to the table in a survival crafting gameplay loop that’s also a great take on norse mythology. The snowy weather isn’t the only thing to look forward to, as there are going to be new enemies, places, and faces to engage with when it drops on September 9, 2026.

18. Marvel’s Wolverine

Boy, oh boy, was that look that we got into this one at the recent State of Play a good one. Insomniac made a lot of good choices in its take on Logan, and the inclusion of Jean Grey and some very high stakes for the cast make this one a very engaging title indeed. Wolverine looks like a fresh take on a very familiar character, and the mechanics look like they weave his unique powers into the gameplay loop quite well. It’s out on September 15, 2026, and is exclusive to the PS5.

19.Trials In The Sky Second Chapter

We’ve known that this one is coming for a while, and although a concrete release date is yet to be announced, it’s probably going to be out in late September. Its predecessor ended on quite the cliffhanger and it’s quite a tempting title to consider even in the midst of a very crowded release calendar thanks to one of the big names on our list. We’re definitely keeping an eye out for this one.

20. Trine 6: Together in Time

This puzzle platformer brings a vibrant color palette to a world that’s full of mysteries waiting to be explored, and a charming cast aimed at being memorable by virtue of their unique abilities and the synergies they build based off of them.You get to play it with upto three of your buddies, with a bunch of common abilities and a combat system that lets you make the most of them all thrown in. It’s releasing for the PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2 and XBOX Series X|S on 17 September, 2026.

21. Control Resonant

How did Remedy choose to build on what made the predecessor to this one great? Well, it’s opened up the doors of the FBC and let its protagonist loose in a version of Manhattan that’s been warped beyond recognition. There are enemy designs that range from bizarre to surreal, while the combat takes a more hands-on approach this time around. This one’s out on September 24 for the PC, PS5, and XBOX Series X|S,

22. Hot Wheels Infinite Rush

Based on Mattel’s popular line of collectibles, this one is an open-world arcade racer that ditches photorealism in favor of a more amusing take on Hot Wheels, allowing it to bring its own version of the track sets we’ve always wanted to build to life. It also brings full cross-play compatibility to the table, allowing you to set up evenings of racing that could have you very entertained indeed. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series, and the Switch 2 on September 24, 2026.

23. Silent Hill: Townfall

Simon Ordell’s time in St. Amelia is vastly different from Hinako’s adventure in Silent Hill f, but that doesn’t make it any less unsettling in the limited glimpses we’ve got of this one. It has all the staples of the franchise, such as nasty monsters and an intense, moody setting, coupled with new additions that make this one a game to look forward to if you’ve got nerves of steel. It’s coming out for the PS5 and PC on September 24.

24. Valor Mortis

The chance to play as an undead soldier in a story set during the Napoleonic Wars is definitely something that made us sit up and pay attention, and everything we’ve seen of this one so far points to an experience that’s sure to test our skills and our patience in this first-person Soulslike. Once again, this one’s hitting the shelves on September 24 for the PC and PS5.

25. Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Miyamoto Musashi is back, and he’s bringing the Oni Gauntlet back in all its glory in a title that’s as brutal as they come on the gameplay front. The fight against Shuten-dōji in the recently released trailer was reason enough for us to be interested in this one, but the playable demo now has us itching to get into it in earnest. We’re going to have to wait until September 25 for that chance, though, and it’s coming to the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

26. Minecraft Dungeons II

A new evil, two new worlds, and the chance of a closer look at The Nether are all factors that contribute to our enthusiasm for this one. There’s also the new combat that was shown off in a recent trailer to look forward to, alongside the potential for some very cool DLC being added to it after its September 29 release for both iterations of the Switch, PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

27. Phantom Blade Zero

We’ve got high hopes for this one, and a lot of confidence that it isn’t going to disappoint when it comes out on October 29 after a delay that’s using the extra time for some polishing. It’s combat and traversal mechanics all point to a title that’s slick, fast, and challenging, all of which are very attractive features for any game to have. The premise is equally engaging, and we can’t wait to dive into this one when it comes out for the PS5 and PC.

28. Rayman Legends Retold

It’s always great to see Rayman again, and this time around, the classic character is coming back to the spotlight in style. There’s a fully-3D art style that brings a colorful world to life with aplomb, while the story might be familiar to those of you who’ve played through Rayman Legends. This platformer is definitely worth looking out for, and is coming out October 1, 2026, for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

29. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Taking to the skies in fighter jets is always going to be an exhilarating experience, and the addition of superweapons and the ability to send enemy fighters crashing into one another are all facets that add to the allure of this game. It’s out on October 2 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S and there’s an attractive bunch of content for those of you who pre-order it.

30. Gears of War: E-Day

This one’s been a long time coming and we can’t wait to rejoin Marcus Fenix on an adventure that’s going to take us back to the beginning of the war between mankind and The Locusts. Despite the lack of a PS5 version on its October 6 launch date, you’re still going to get to play it on XBOX and PC. It’s also going to be on Game Pass from day one, so there’s that. It’s as action-packed as you’d expect, going by the trailer from the XBOX Games Showcase.

31. Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Pod racing in a galaxy far, far, away sounds like the perfect way to unwind after a long day, doesn’t it? We doubt we’re going to be doing a lot of relaxing after seeing this one in action at the 2026 edition of Summer Game Fest, though. It comes with a lot of tension both on and off the tracks as you race to become the new champion of the Galactic Racing League. This one’s ready to go on October 6 for the PS5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S.

32. Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse

This 2D side-scrolling Metroidvania puts the Belmont family whip in the hands of a nimble new protagonist who must use it to take on Dracula’s forces in Paris, hitting them where it hurts while getting more powerful in the process. Trailers indicate that exploration is a crucial part of it, along with the potential integration of RPG mechanics into its progression loop. It’s coming to the PS5, PC, XBOX Series X|S, and Switch 2 on October 15, 2026.

33. Grand Theft Auto 6

This one’s certainly one that we’ve all been waiting for with patience (and a fair bit of impatience after last year’s delay), and is sure to take over the discourse around gaming when it arrives. It’s been imposing enough that other developers have done their best to give it a wide berth with some interesting effects on the year’s release calendar that you might have already noticed, even on this list. It’s out on November 19 for the PS5 and XBOX Series X|S, with no news of a PC release at the time of writing.

34. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

One of the Zelda franchise’s heavy hitters getting a remake is obviously good news. However, Nintendo has been quite cryptic when it comes to details about its gameplay and potential improvements to the Ocarina of Time remake, and there’s no official release date at this time other than a rumored November-December release window. It’s exclusive to the Switch and Switch 2.

35. The Duskbloods

FromSoft has been rather quiet since Nightreign came out, and that’s because it has been hard at work on this PvEvP Switch 2 exclusive that lets you take control of the Bloodsworn, fierce warriors who are competing against each other for possession of the First Blood, although they might find themselves working together when the situation demands it. There are over 12 unique characters to engage with, although we’re yet to get an official release date on it.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s quite a crowded calendar for the second half of the year, but we’re sure a lot of you share our excitement for all the great titles that it’s set to bring. More games, more memories, and more fun is how we’re choosing to look at it.

Much of the trailer, however, is dedicated to showing the shady underbelly of the sport, with many villainous characters telling the protagonist that they should stay out of their way. These moments are punctuated with gameplay footage showing off some more fast-paced racing, including quite a few scenes of pod racing.

Studio founder and CEO Matt Webster had revealed back in February that there are no plans to heavily monetize Star Wars: Galactic Racer. In an interview, he referred to the title as a “premium release” that will feature a campaign, an arcade mode, and multiplayer modes. Creative director Kieran Crimmins went on to note that making sure Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a premium release is the mindset of Fuse Games as a whole.

“Our mindset right now is a premium release, to try and get an amazing experience out of the box,” he said. “Obviously, we wouldn’t close the door to doing something later, but that isn’t what we are really thinking about right now. We just want it to be the very best game it can be, and we want it to be complete when it comes out.”

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 6th.

If you’re preparing to race on your PC, you’re going to be delighted to know that NVIDIA has announced the game’s compatibility with a host of its features. That includes DLSS 4.5 and, by extension, its Multi-Frame Generation tech (Ray Reconstruction and Super Resolution are also on board). If your PC is on the beefier side of the spectrum, those races are going to have a lot going on, and a lot to gawk at as the tracks speed by.

If you’ve been living on a rock or perhaps visiting a galaxy far, far away, this one puts you in the shoes of Shade, who carries a large chip on his shoulder that’s somehow connected to Kestar Bool, who’s sitting pretty at the top of the League. How he got there is anybody’s guess, but you’re going to have to bring your best racing skills and sharpest reflexes to each race if you want to get a shot at dethroning the reigning champion.

Of course, Arcade Mode and Scenario Mode are going to be a part of it if you’d like to take things at a more relaxed pace, and perhaps bask in the sights that DLSS is going to work its magic on when the game hits its October 6th release date.

Since Galactic Racer won’t feature a Season Pass, the Deluxe Edition instead includes three Repulsorcrafts – the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, the Kor Sarun: Ciza T speeder bike, and the Kor Sarun: Rak S skim speeder. You also get a Deluxe Livery Pack to decorate your vehicles with unique designs and a Deluxe Player Banner Pack with an exclusive insignia and background.

It also provides access to three “unique” Arcade events, which we’re yet to learn about. On top of all this, you get a digital art book with new art for the various characters, locations, and vehicles appearing in the game. And those who pick up the physical version also net a Steelcase with a sleeve.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Star Wars without other physical merchandise, hence the $159.99 Collector’s Edition. It features the Deluxe Edition upgrade, Steelcase with a custom cover, and a physical version of the art book alongside two pilot patches, a physical banner for Galactic League champion (and story nemesis) Kestar Bool, and a physical Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder model.

That by itself wouldn’t be incriminating enough, but the Deluxe Edition contents were also accidentally posted. It includes a pre-order banner and livery, three exclusive Repulsorcraft, a Deluxe player banner and livery (different for each platform), and three unique “Arcade Events.” And as the developer promised, no Season Pass. There’s also a Steelbook and sleeve to go with the previously announced physical version.

Naturally, the publisher was quick to remove these details from Steam, but there you have it. You would probably think a reveal is inbound in June at Summer Game Fest, but it could be even earlier, specifically Star Wars Day on May 4th. Perhaps we’ll see more details for Star Wars Zero Company and the reveal of the long-awaited third entry in the Star Wars Jedi series.

You probably shouldn’t hold out hope for Star Wars Eclipse, however, especially with recent rumors about how it’s still “years off from completion” (and could potentially lose funding from NetEase Games).

“We at Secret Mode are delighted to announce Plaion as our trusted physical distribution partner to help deliver global success on our recently announced game, Star Wars: Galactic Racer,” said Secret Mode publishing commercial director Alison Fraser in a statement. “We have full confidence in their experience and expertise and look forward to working together to bring this exhilarating racing game to both new and long-standing fans of the beloved franchise.”

“We are delighted to partner with Secret Mode to bring Star Wars: Galactic Racer to the global physical market,” said PLAION Partners CEO Craig McNicol. “Securing the mandate for worldwide physical distribution of such an exciting title underscores the strength of our retail relationships, our expert teams around the world and our extensive experience within the physical games space. We are committed to delivering top-tier products to players everywhere and look forward to a strong global launch.”

While this essentially guarantees a physical release for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, more details about whether we can expect more expensive Deluxe editions, or whether the standard editions will come with any physical goodies haven’t yet been revealed.

PLAION is no stranger to working on physical releases. The company had confirmed all the way back in August 2025 that it was partnering up with Pearl Abyss for a similar release of upcoming open-world action game Crimson Desert.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer was announced back in December, and is currently in development for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. The title was unveiled with a trailer that, unfortunately, didn’t really showcase any actual gameplay. The studio behind it, Fuse Games, is known for its pedigree in the racing genre, with many of its developers having previously worked on titles across the Burnout and Need for Speed franchises.

February saw the release of another trailer, giving us a look at the high-speed, high-stakes action-packed racing gameplay. The main story of the title will revolve around taking part in an unsanctioned racing league in the Outer Rim, referred to as the Galactic League. The league is dominated by Kestar Bool when you first get there, thanks in large part to his connections with the seedy underworld, as well as his own use of underhanded tactics. The player, in the role of lone racer Shade, will take on Bool throughout the campaign.

Creative director Kieran Crimmins has spoken about the gameplay features of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and how the studio had a focus on making sure that the crashes feel just as fun and destructive here as they did in the classic Burnout games.

Studio CEO Matt Webster has also recently confirmed that Star Wars: Galactic Racer “is a premium release,” and as such, will not feature a season pass. “We have our campaign, and we have arcade mode, and we have multiplayer, and it’s a self-contained thing,” he said.

“No. This is a premium release, right?” said studio founder and CEO Matt Webster to IGN in a recent interview. “We have our campaign, and we have arcade mode, and we have multiplayer, and it’s a self-contained thing.”

Of course, this is still Star Wars – a franchise that’s constantly growing with new media and additions. So, Webster says the team can recognize “that the landscape of Star Wars evolves and changes over time, and so do games as they go. So we see an opportunity for us to tap into more Star Wars or new Star Wars over time, but in terms of us outlining what we think post-launch is going to look like, that’s not something that we see. The only reason I say a blind no to it is, in my head, season pass is connected to free-to-play games, and that’s not what we are making.”

Creative director Kieran Crimmins agrees. “Our mindset right now is a premium release, to try and get an amazing experience out of the box. Obviously, we wouldn’t close the door to doing something later, but that isn’t what we are really thinking about right now. We just want it to be the very best game it can be, and we want it to be complete when it comes out.”

Interestingly, the sentiment of providing a premium release echoes Pearl Abyss with Crimson Desert. Despite offering pre-order bonuses, marketing and strategic planning expert Will Powers affirmed that there’s no cash shop for cosmetics or such because, “This is a premium experience.”

As for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC this year. Focusing on the mysterious racer Shade, the story follows their journey through the Galactic League in an attempt to unseat Kestar Bool. Players can select multiple vehicle types and build them out to their liking with tracks spanning planets such as Ando Prime, Jakku and Sentinel One.

It’s not an open world, however – Fuse Games is keen to deliver something “high consequence, high action, high replayability” to create “player stories that you wouldn’t have seen in other games.” With no season pass, it should be interesting to see how Fuse Games pursues additional content.

“Fuse was made with a combination of people who have worked together for a fairly long time, there’s things we’ve loved in Arcade racing – visceral high-octane action and want to bring that to this game,” said Crimmins. “Those sensibilities and some of that DNA from previous games we’ve worked on, obviously that’s in this game because we want to bring that stuff. It’s the core of pick-up-and-play arcade racing with great depth, but also great thrill. There’s also certain game mechanics that are part of our DNA in there as well.”

Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick also chimed in to talk about the “spectacular crashes” that players will get to be part of, cause, or avoid in Star Wars: Galactic Racer. “I’d jump in to say it’s high thrill, but also high risk! The spectacular crashes in Galactic Racer, there’s elements of that you see in the Burnout series and other racing games, but also the Pod Racing sequence in Star Wars Episode One,” he said.

“The fragility of these vehicles in this game, the scrappiness we’re implying in this era… They’re really just put together for racing, sort of inherently dangerous to race and in a place where crashes are gonna happen. We want to be able to show that! Cinematically in a fun way, but also lean into the arcade elements while emphasizing this is a dangerous sport you’re engaging in.”

Crimmins went on to note that these crashes will go on to form an important part of the Star Wars: Galactic Racer fantasy. This is thanks in large part to the dangers of this high-speed racing already having been showcased through Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and other films also featuring vehicle chases that often end up with several explosions. In gameplay terms, he also spoke about how these dangerous races come together to form their own stories.

“There’s a few different things from a play point-of-view,” Crimmins explained. “Putting our expertise and studio sensibilities into the Star Wars space, it has a rich landscape of vehicle fantasies. Some core pillar racing fantasy, but also as Craig said this used-universe of cobbled together vehicles. All those flavourings are key to that Star Wars vehicle fantasy.”

“So while we have our own studio sensibilities, we looked to our partners at Lucas to make sure we translate those into an authentic Star Wars experience. That means having high-octane visceral action with risk / reward mechanics, but also a breadth of experiences you can have in the game. Telling a story, you’ve got characters and a running storyline that feels like a Star Wars journey you’re going on. It’s why we’ve worked so closely with Lucas, so you get that Star Wars magic.”

Derrick also pointed out that Star Wars: Galactic Racer will focus on a smaller-scale story rather than the traditional epic space operas that the overarching franchise is known for. Thanks to this, the focus of the narrative is more about the competitiveness between the various characters.

“And it’s not galactic-wide stakes, it’s a local story,” he said. “There are stakes to each of these characters, they have agendas and reasons for why they’re doing what they’re doing. But it’s less life or death and more win or lose. So it’s strongly linked to the competitiveness of the story. The last thing I’ll say about authenticity is it’s all about aesthetics. It has to look like Star Wars. It has to read familiar as racing in that universe, and it’s also the sounds. The music, the engines and these vehicles crunching and hitting each other that’s grounded in some authenticity.”

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year. For more details, check out why the studio decided to avoid an open-world structure, and also take a look at its first gameplay trailer.

However, it’s developed by Fuse Games, comprised of former Criterion developers with no shortage of experience on open-world titles such as Burnout. Even with the popularity of the genre in the racing space (see: Forza Horizon), it opted for a more track-focused approach because it not only fit the Star Wars universe but offered that “replayability loop that expands over time.”

“The reason we’re a track-based racer is because we wanted to have that replayability loop that expands over time,” said creative director Kieran Crimmins to IGN. “All those benefits people learn in the tracks, the more they play, learning the handling, that familiarity getting them better rather than just a massive smorgasbord of a thing, which is a slightly different kind of ‘play with the toys’ experience.

“This is high consequence, high action, high replayability and something that creates player stories that you wouldn’t have seen in other games. And I don’t think we could do that if we would go in and say, okay, we’re also going to do this open world thing. That’s a whole set of different challenges.”

Studio CEO and founder Matt Webster agreed. “You can also say, well, this is the Galactic League, right? This is sport, and we’ve seen racing as an activity and as a sport in Star Wars has been around in many forms, right? Episode 1’s podracing we all know and love, Bad Batch’s riot racing in Season 2 was just awesome. Star Wars Resistance has got the Aces and low-altitude starfighter racing. Racing as a sport and activity is something that’s inside Star Wars, and tracks lend themselves to that really well at an action level. And the other thing we realize more broadly is we are inside Star Wars. And Star Wars fans crave the characters and a story.

“So we wanted to go there as well, in a way that frames the racing action. So, you play as a character who is racing, as opposed to it being a racing game. We’ve made plenty of racing games where you’re just a faceless silhouette in a car. Now you’re inhabiting Shade, you’re a canonical new Star Wars character. You walk down one of the shots in the trailer, you’re walking down the ramp of your starship, you’re going into a paddock.

“And this is a really interesting addition here where the paddock gives us a place, a low-intensity space where we can get up close with our Star Wars stuff, we can move a narrative on, we can see characters inside there. It gives us a low-intensity space as a counterpoint and a contrast to the super high-intensity racing. And I think it’s a really important distinction for us now as we call this a racing adventure.”

Regarding Shade, they’re hired by the Galactic League’s founder, Darius Pax, to help take down Kestar Bool, the current frontrunner (and general no-good scum). Interestingly, they also have an axe to grind against Bool, the reasons we’ll likely find out over the course of the campaign.

As for the tracks that players will race on, they include locations like Sentinel One, Ando Prime and Jakku. While you can choose from different classes, there’s also a heavy emphasis on modifying your vehicle and making it your own.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches later this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Check out the first gameplay trailer here.