Xbox users can finally play a fan-favorite Star Wars game with the surprise launch of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, available today. Initially released on the PS4 and Switch in June, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is a port of the N64 classic with modernized controls and a better frame rate to handle its high-speed races.
Based on the famous racing scene in The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer offers several tracks based on classic Star Wars locations from the films and books, as well as nearly 20 playable racers and their unique podracers. Each podracer can be upgraded to handle more difficult tracks and tougher opponents.
Star Wars Episode 1: Racer’s re-release is one of many classic Star Wars games from the 90s being brought to current-gen consoles and PC. Last year, Limited Run Games partnered up with Lucasfilm to bring a select few back with physical copies, and with the launch of Star Wars: Battlefront by EA in 2015, a few classic games were part of a pre-order package on the PlayStation 4. Those games included Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter, and the SNES classic Super Star Wars. All three games can now be purchased separately on the PS4.
Last September a Nintendo Switch and PS4 version of Star Wars: Jedi Academy was announced and released in early 2020. Though this game and others are no longer part of the official Star Wars canon, they are part of the “Legends” branding.
With EA in partnership with Lucasfilm to make brand new games, EA’s Respawn Entertainment developed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Fallen Order quickly became a hit when it launched in late 2019, with many praising its story and characters. Though Respawn did add some smaller updates to the game, Fallen Order did not receive any additional story DLC. For its part, EA did confirm Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is the first part of a new game franchise.
Meanwhile, EA recently released Star Wars: Squadrons, a space combat game that mixes the classic Star Wars space-sim games of the 90s with EA’s modern take on Star Wars Battlefront, leaning heavily on the sim aspect. Star Wars: Squadrons has become popular since its release, but EA has announced that no new DLC will be added to Star Wars: Squadrons in a move that many fans likely feel is a missed opportunity.
Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is available now on PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One
