Update 4/16/2020: StarWars.com has revealed that Star Wars Episode I: Racer will become available on May 12. The official Star Wars website also ran an interview with the game’s producer James Vicari, and we’ve added some quotes from that discussion to the “What they’re saying” section below.
Original post from 3/26:
“They have podracing on Malastare. Very fast. Very dangerous.” And now they’ll also have podracing on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, because the classic (I hesitate to use the word “classic” to describe any video game that originally came out after 1990, but this is how Lucasfilm is describing it) game Star Wars Episode I: Racer is being ported to those two modern consoles with updated controls.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer is based on the exciting podrace sequence from the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Players race their pods on Tatooine, Mon Gazza, Aquilaris, and yes, Malastare, among other planets, controlling up to 25 fun and familiar drivers like Anakin Skywalker (voiced by actor Jake Lloyd, reprising his role from the movie), Sebulba, Dud Bolt, Ben Quadrinaros, and Gasgano.
What’s happening:
- The 1999 video game Star Wars Episode I: Racer is being ported to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
- The game was first released on Windows and Nintendo 64 in conjunction with the release of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace in theaters.
- The Nintendo Switch version will feature LAN multiplayer mode, and both new versions will support split-screen multiplayer functionality.
What they’re saying:
- StarWars.com: “The ’90s classic Star Wars Episode I Racer is coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 complete with modernized controls, Lucasfilm and developer Aspyr announced today. A beloved racing title based on the podracing sequence from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode I Racer puts you behind the controls of your favorite podracers as you speed through flaming methane lakes, Tusken Raider assaults, anti-gravity tunnels, and much more in a pulse-pounding, do-or-die fight to the finish line.”
- James Vicari, producer at Racer developer Aspyr: “I think Racer, like Jedi Academy and Jedi Outcast before it, has two crucial qualities: it’s a great game and it has emotional resonance. Those are very important to us. We really believe in reuniting fans with something they cherished, or connecting a new audience with something they may have missed.”
- Vicari: “We’ve done a lot of work to make sure that the game feels comfortable in all configurations, including playing with each individual Joy-Con. The team here is a big believer that the best control scheme is the one you don’t ever think about and that philosophy really permeates everything we’ve done with the controls.”
- Vicari: “Nintendo and Star Wars are really a generational experience and we’re incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of that circle.”
More images:
Star Wars Episode I: Racer will arrive on Tuesday, May 12 for Nintendo Switch and PS4.