When Star Wars Episode I — The Phantom Menace arrived in theaters in 1999, it introduced audiences to a new era of the galaxy far, far away — along with a cast of characters and concepts that quickly became ingrained in franchise history.
Among them was podracing, the dangerous, high-speed sport showcased on Tatooine, and its most notorious competitor: Sebulba, the ruthless Dug racer who repeatedly sabotaged rivals in his quest for victory. Refresh your memory of the iconic sequence:
More than two decades later, Lucasfilm Games is bringing that corner of the Star Wars universe back into focus with “Star Wars: Galactic Racer”, one of the new titles unveiled during the recent annual Game Awards.
Developed by Fuse Games, the project marks the franchise’s first major return to podracing since the early 2000s, following releases like “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” and “Racer Revenge”. Watch the first official trailer for the upcoming game below:
Unlike those earlier games, “Galactic Racer” is built around an original story and protagonist. Players step into the role of Shade, a new character navigating the brutal world of competitive racing across multiple planets.
Fuse Games co-founder Matt Webster has described Shade as “a lone racer with a dream of glory and revenge,” adding that players will learn more about the character as they progress through the campaign. “Your aim is to survive long enough to earn your shot at becoming an elite racing pilot,” he told StarWars.com.
“Our races are high-stakes competitions where racers do everything they can to get to the front in the solo campaign and in our awesome multiplayer gameplay.”
The reveal trailer also confirms the return of Sebulba, immediately connecting the game to The Phantom Menace.
Webster acknowledged Sebulba’s popularity, saying, “There’s so much love for Sebulba on the team and across the Star Wars community.” He added, “There are particular reasons why he finds his way into our trailer as well as a detail in this shot that may lead to even more questions, the answers to which we’ll have to leave to another time!”
While “Galactic Racer” was the most nostalgia-driven reveal, it wasn’t the only Star Wars title announced at The Game Awards. Lucasfilm Games also unveiled “Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic”, a story-driven action RPG set during the Old Republic era.
“Star Wars: Galactic Racer” is scheduled to launch in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC, putting Sebulba back on the track for the first time in years.
Which upcoming Star Wars game are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments down below!
