'Star Wars: Galactic Racer': Release date, trailers, gameplay & everything we know about the return of podracing

May 8, 2026 - 03:19

A new podracing game is coming, and it has some serious racing pedigree behind it. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is being developed by a team of former Burnout developers, promising a high-speed, arcade-style return to the sport that defined Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

The game is positioned as a spiritual successor to the classic Star Wars: Racer and Star Wars: Racer Revenge. While an exact release date has not been locked down, the project is expected to launch sometime in 2025 on PC and consoles.

Gameplay footage and early trailers show a focus on blistering speed, track hazards, and the kind of near-miss, crash-heavy action that made the Burnout series famous. Players will pilot iconic podracers like Anakin Skywalker's and Sebulba's, but the roster is expected to include new custom builds and classic machines from the expanded universe. The tracks shown so far include familiar locations like Tatooine's Boonta Eve Classic, but also new circuits built on other planets.

The developers have emphasized that this is not a simulation. It is a pure arcade racer where boosting, drafting, and slamming opponents are key. The "wreck" system is a major selling point. When your podracer takes too much damage, it will explode in spectacular slow-motion, showing the engine tearing apart and the driver being ejected. This is a direct nod to the crash cams from Burnout.

There is no word yet on a full story mode, but the game will feature a career mode where players earn credits to upgrade their engines, cooling systems, and steering. Online multiplayer is confirmed, with up to 12 players racing in chaotic, weapon-free contests that rely entirely on driving skill and aggression.

For fans who have waited over two decades for a proper podracing game, Galactic Racer looks like the real deal. It is fast, violent, and built by people who understand that the best racing games are about the thrill of the crash as much as the thrill of the win.