Star Wars: Galactic Racer Trailer Reveals Another Phantom Menace Character's Comeback at Sony State of Play

Tonight's PlayStation State of Play showcase offered the most detailed preview yet of the upcoming Star Wars: Galactic Racer, with a key highlight being the confirmation of another character from Episode 1: The Phantom Menace making a return. Indeed, the game will feature the surprising comeback of Ben Quadinaros, the Boonta Eve Podrace contestant whose pod famously exploded at the starting line. Somehow, he has managed to survive and continues racing, with the game's timeline set after Return of the Jedi. Since his debut in The Phantom Menace, Quadinaros has made only sporadic appearances in Star Wars lore, but it seems he later became a rival to fellow podracer Sebulba, who also appears in Galactic Racer sporting a beard. The trailer also introduces protagonist Shade participating in a 'friendly exhibition race' on a planet covered in what appears to be yellow acid, though the event turns out to be anything but friendly, as multiple speeders are shown getting wrecked. Developed by Fuse Games, a British studio founded by veterans from Criterion Games (known for Burnout and Need for Speed), the footage clearly reflects the high-octane racing style of those titles. Additionally, the trailer hints at narrative elements, with Shade facing threats from an unhappy alien who mentions freezing someone in carbonite. Unfortunately, there's still no specific release date beyond the vague 2026 window for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. For more details, check out all the announcements from Sony's State of Play broadcast.