'Star Wars Episode I: Racer' With New Motion Controls Now on PS4, Switch

Startup your podracers and get ready to return to Tatooine because “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” is getting the HD treatment.

Twenty-one years after first being released on the PC and Nintendo 64, “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” is returning, this time on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. New publisher Aspyr Media released a launch trailer showing off the look of the game for current generation consoles as well as some new features such as the new motion controls, particularly for the Switch's Joy-Cons.

Featuring all the racers and the memorable racecourse from “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” the game adds several new courses, some on Tatooine, others on various planets, notes GameSpot. Several single-player modes, including a tournament mode, are available for play. It also features multiplayer, the format of which varies by platform.

In the 1999 film, the podraces on Tatooine are noted for their spectacle as they always drew huge audiences. The former slave Sebulba won his freedom through podracing and Anakin Skywalker planned to follow his example to win freedom for both himself and his mother, Shmi. The scene also showed early examples of Anakin’s mechanical ability, an indicator of his sensitivity to using The Force.

Originally slated for a May 12 release, “Star Wars Episode I: Racer” was first pushed back to May 26 and then delayed indefinitely. Upon the second delay, Aspyr explained that it was due to complications that have come up since the studio began working from home because of the coronavirus, GameSpot reported.

“Star Wars Episode I: Racer” launched alongside “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” as a tie-in to the aforementioned podraces. As of 2011, the game held the Guinness World record as the best-selling sci-fi racing game, having worldwide sales of 3.12 million and beating other series like “Wipeout” and “F-Zero.”

Two titles featuring podracing were subsequently released after it: the arcade game “Star Wars: Racer Arcade” was released in 2000 while a sequel, “Star Wars Racer Revenge,” was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. The gaming experience promises to be better this time, however, particularly considering the wireless functionality of the current PS4 controller and the Joy-Con on the Switch.

This release comes on the heels of the trailer launch for the dogfighting multiplayer games “Star Wars: Squadrons” coming later this year for the PS4, Xbox 360, and PS5.