Star Wars: Galactic Racer Studio is Tapping into Burnout Experience to Create Cinematic Crashes

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Fuse Games, the team creating the new Star Wars: Galactic Racer, is drawing on their past experience with the Burnout series to deliver exciting, fast-paced gameplay. Kieran Crimmins, creative director for Galactic Racer, recently told Eurogamer that the game’s trailer features crashes inspired by Burnout. This is thanks to the team’s background – many Fuse Games developers previously worked at Criterion, the studio behind Burnout, and are passionate about arcade-style racing.

According to Crimmins, Fuse was created by a team with a lot of prior experience working together. They aimed to capture the exciting, fast-paced action that players enjoy in classic arcade racers and bring that same feel to this new game. They’ve incorporated elements from their previous work to create a game that’s easy to pick up and play, yet offers a lot of depth and thrilling gameplay, building on familiar mechanics the team is known for.

I’m really excited about the racing in Star Wars: Galactic Racer! Craig Derrick from Lucasfilm Games was talking about the crashes, and they sound amazing – super high-thrill but also risky. He said they’re inspired by games like Burnout, but also by the awesome Pod Racing scene in Star Wars Episode One. Basically, expect some spectacular crashes – you can cause them, be part of them, or try to avoid them!

These vehicles are built for speed, not necessarily for safety. Given the rough-and-tumble feel of this period, they’re essentially cobbled together for racing and crashes are inevitable. We want to capture that excitement – both the thrilling, cinematic moments and the inherent danger of the sport – while keeping the gameplay fun and arcade-like.

Crimmins explained that the crashes in the game will be a key part of the Star Wars: Galactic Racer experience. This is because the Star Wars universe, particularly Episode I: The Phantom Menace, has already established the risks of fast-paced vehicle racing and dramatic crashes with plenty of explosions. He also mentioned that these dangerous races will create unique and compelling stories within the gameplay itself.

According to Crimmins, there are several important aspects to consider when designing vehicles for the game. They’re bringing their design expertise and artistic style to the Star Wars universe, which is full of exciting vehicle possibilities. This includes both classic racing fantasies and the unique, makeshift look of vehicles built from salvaged parts, as Craig mentioned. These details are essential to capturing the feel of Star Wars vehicles.

We brought our own creative style to the game, but we worked closely with Lucasfilm to ensure it truly felt like Star Wars. That means fast-paced, exciting action where your choices matter, alongside a variety of different things to do. We also focused on creating a compelling story with memorable characters and a narrative that captures the feeling of a Star Wars adventure. That’s why our collaboration with Lucasfilm was so important – we wanted to deliver that special Star Wars feeling.

Derrick also noted that Star Wars: Galactic Racer will tell a more personal story, shifting away from the large-scale conflicts usually seen in Star Wars. Instead, the game will center on the rivalry and competition between the characters.

He explained that the story isn’t about the fate of the galaxy, but a more personal conflict. Each character has their own motivations and goals, and the stakes are about winning or losing, not life or death. This focus on competition is key. Finally, he emphasized that authenticity is all about capturing the Star Wars feel – visually, through familiar settings and imagery, and aurally, with the iconic sounds of the universe, like engines and vehicle impacts. It needs to feel like Star Wars.

The racing game Star Wars: Galactic Racer will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S later in 2024. You can find out more about the developers’ decision to keep the game focused on racing rather than an open world, and watch the first gameplay footage online.

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2026-02-17 14:42