Fuse Games is aiming to inject new life into the racing game genre with its upcoming title, Star Wars: Galactic Racer. The developer intends to move beyond traditional racing mechanics by integrating elements from other genres, drawing inspiration from titles like Burnout and incorporating roguelite structures for enhanced replayability.
Matt Webster, CEO of Fuse Games, stated that the studio's goal was to "move the genre forward" and "modernize it." He explained that the team, comprised of racing game veterans, wanted to create a racing adventure where story and character play a significant role, all within a runs-based framework designed for infinite replayability. "Our assertion was that those things were going to be a great mix," Webster said, "and now, as that comes to life, people are coming for the Star Wars arcade racing action, but there's a boatload of depth in there."
The game is described as a spiritual successor to 1999's Star Wars Episode I: Pod Racer, but Galactic Racer introduces new mechanics to set it apart. The roguelite influence means that each playthrough offers a fresh experience, a design choice intended to capitalize on the inherent replayability of racing games.
Multiplayer has also been a key focus for Fuse Games. Addressing potential concerns about how a runs-based structure might translate to competitive online play, Webster explained that Galactic Racer features a unique approach to multiplayer racing. The game compresses the runs-based chase into approximately 25 to 30-minute sessions. In modes like Speeder Tours (12 players) and Pod Racing Tours (eight players), players compete across six events.
The first five events serve as a "build chase," where a player's finishing position directly influences the rewards they receive and the parts available for their vehicle. Crucially, players can place bets on their expected finishing positions. A confident player might bet on a top-three finish for an epic reward, while a more conservative bet on a top-nine finish yields a decent part drop. This betting system aims to ensure that all players have opportunities to progress, even if they don't consistently win. "Now, everybody has a chance, and I'm serious, where we've seen this, everyone has a chance to claw that back victory because the first five events are about building the best vehicle you can for the showdown event. The very last event is one where you put it all on the line, and there you're betting on who's going to win," Webster elaborated.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is scheduled to launch on October 6 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.