Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Story and setting

The game is set after the Empire’s fall, as the New Republic attempts to rebuild a fractured galaxy. In the lawless Outer Rim, gambling, entertainment and reputation create the Galactic League, an unsanctioned racing circuit funded by syndicates and run outside official control. It is a dangerous underground sport rather than a sanctioned championship, and the focus is on racing skill rather than Jedi powers or prophecy.

You play as Shade, a lone racer pursuing glory and revenge. Shade’s main target is Kestar Bool, the League Champion and a powerful rival with plans to extend his influence over the circuit. The story also features Darius Pax, the Besalisk founder of the League, Hibi, an Ardennian mechanic who helps improve Shade’s machines, and Sebulba, the veteran podracer from The Phantom Menace. The campaign visits new and familiar Star Wars locations, including Jakku, Tatooine, Ando Prime, Lantaana, Sentinel One and Derven Acos.

How it plays

Galactic Racer combines arcade racing with a runs-based structure. In the single-player campaign, you choose between events as you progress through a tour, weighing up risks, rewards and branching routes. Crashes and failures can end a run, but some perks and unlocks carry into later attempts, giving the campaign a roguelite-style loop without making every restart completely fresh.

The confirmed vehicles are landspeeders, speeder bikes, skim speeders and podracers. Each class has different handling and tactical strengths. You can fit parts earned during runs or bought from Hibi, improving statistics and adding abilities that suit a preferred approach. The game includes takedowns, shunts and other forms of vehicle combat, while official footage shows races across desert, volcanic, icy and jungle environments. The main racing view is third-person, with first-person driving also shown in previews. A third-person view is used when exploring paddocks between races.

Modes and online play

The announced modes are Campaign, Scenario and Arcade. Campaign is the main story-led, runs-based experience. Scenario and Arcade provide more focused challenges, including events built around particular vehicles and situations. The game can be played alone, and the campaign and offline modes do not require a console subscription.

Online multiplayer is confirmed as competitive player-versus-player racing for up to 12 players. Xbox lists online multiplayer for 2–12 players and cross-platform multiplayer, while Steam lists Online PvP and Cross-Platform Multiplayer. PlayStation 5 players need PS Plus for online play, and Xbox players need Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate. No co-operative campaign has been announced.

Platforms, editions and UK price

The game launches on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It is being sold as a premium release rather than a free-to-play title. The Standard Edition is listed at £49.99, while the Deluxe Edition is £64.99 on the UK PlayStation and Xbox stores. UK retailers list the physical Collector’s Edition at £129.99, although retailer discounts and stock can vary.

The Standard Edition includes the base game and, while pre-orders remain available, an additional repulsorcraft livery and multiplayer player banner. Deluxe adds three Kor Sarun vehicles, a Naboo N-1 starfighter-inspired livery, three Arcade events, a Deluxe player banner and a digital art book. The Collector’s Edition includes the Deluxe content alongside a steel case and sleeve, Collector’s Edition packaging, a landspeeder model, a physical art book, pilot patches and a Kestar banner. The official retailer list includes Amazon UK, GAME, Smyths, ShopTo, Very, Rarewaves, MonsterShop and The Game Collection.

Trailers, release status and open questions

The reveal at The Game Awards on 11 December 2025 introduced the Outer Rim racing league, Jakku and the game’s mix of repulsorcraft, ending with a tease for Sebulba. The 12 February 2026 State of Play gameplay trailer showed racing on Sentinel One, Jakku, Ando Prime and Lantaana, alongside the different vehicle classes, upgrade systems and returning podracer Ben Quadinaros.

The 30 April 2026 release-date announcement confirmed the 6 October launch, pre-order bonuses and Standard, Deluxe and Collector’s Editions. The 5 June Summer Game Fest story trailer showed the single-player campaign, Derven Acos, the paddock areas, Hibi’s workshop, Kestar Bool’s rivalry with Shade and the Campaign, Scenario and Arcade modes. September’s official Under the Hood videos filled in how the four vehicle classes handle, with the final vehicle guide published on 29 September and focused on podracers.

There are still no reviews or confirmed post-launch plans. A Nintendo Switch 2 version, local split-screen, a separate UK PC price, exact Xbox and PC launch times, and any Game Pass or PS Plus day-one inclusion remain unconfirmed. The game has gone gold, but its final performance, campaign length and long-term multiplayer population cannot be judged until release.