The decades-long wait for a spiritual successor to the 1999 cult classic Star Wars Episode I: Racer is finally nearing its end. In a revealing new interview on the Game Business Show, Matt Webster, the founder and CEO of Fuse Games, shared deep insights into the upcoming Star Wars Galactic Racer.
From the pedigree of the development team to the technical ambitions of the project, here is everything we learned about the most anticipated Star Wars racing title in over twenty years.
The Criterion Pedigree: Burnout Meets the Outer Rim
One of the biggest reasons for the massive buzz surrounding Star Wars Galactic Racer is the team behind it. Fuse Games was founded three years ago by former leaders of Criterion Games, the legendary studio responsible for the Burnout series and several Need for Speed titles.
Matt Webster, an industry veteran who spent over 30 years at Electronic Arts and served as a producer on the very first FIFA game, explained that the studio’s goal was to bring elite racing “game feel” to the Star Wars universe.
“You can’t build a great game without a great team,” Webster noted, highlighting that the studio now consists of roughly 75 core developers, supplemented by a robust network of co-development partners across the UK.
A “Racing Adventure”: Beyond the Cockpit
While fans were treated to a nostalgia-heavy trailer at The Game Awards, Webster clarified that Star Wars Galactic Racer is more than just a series of tracks. He officially categorized the title as a “Racing Adventure.”
Key Story and Gameplay Features:
- Canonical Characters: Players will take on the role of a new, canonical character named Shade. While you can customize your appearance and voice, you are inhabiting a specific story within the Star Wars timeline.
- The Paddock Experience: Unlike traditional racers that keep you locked in a menu, this game features a playable Paddock area. Players can walk down the ramps, interact with “critters,” view their vehicles up close, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Galactic Racing League.
- Narrative Stakes: The game follows your journey through the league to deliver on the “racing pilot fantasy,” blending high-intensity racing with lower-intensity storytelling moments.
Technical Specs: 4K 60FPS Spectacle
For those worried about performance, Webster was direct: the team is pushing the hardware to its limits. The goal is a “4K 60 Star Wars spectacle.” Using Unreal Engine, the team is aiming to recreate the visceral speed of the podracing sequences from The Phantom Menace with modern fidelity. Webster mentioned that the team’s experience building the Speeder Bike levels for Star Wars Battlefront and the X-Wing VR Mission gave them the confidence to tackle the “impossible mission” of making levitating vehicles feel weighty and dangerous.
Why the 20-Year Wait?
When asked why a Star Wars racing game hasn’t happened since the late 90s, Webster admitted it was a “white whale” for Lucasfilm Games.
“To make a great racing game is not easy,” he explained. “There’s a load of hard-won lessons you collect along the way.” He believes the timing is finally right because of the “prequel nostalgia” currently sweeping the fanbase, combined with the technical capability to finally do the high-speed maneuvers justice without “tires on tarmac.”
Partnerships and Release Window
The game is being published by Secret Mode in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Webster emphasized that Lucasfilm has been a “creative partner” rather than just a licensor, helping steer the project since its third week of development.
Star Wars Galactic Racer is currently slated for release later this year, though industry analysts are keeping a close eye on the final launch window as the studio moves into the polishing phase.
You can watch the entire video embedded below. Are you excited for this game? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below this article.
