The developer behind a wildly popular Star Wars video game has revealed that they drew inspiration from a Formula 1 documentary series.
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Matt Webster of Fuse Games, the developer of Star Wars: Galactic Racer, provided the insight while speaking to GamesIndustry.biz. He said that Fuse Games wanted to capture the same feeling that the Netflix series Drive to Survive provides to racing fans.
This Netflix series has highlighted the biggest names in F1 over the course of eight seasons. It has prominently featured such drivers as Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and former driver Daniel Ricciardo.
The series has also put the spotlight on the Team Principals, something that NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell referenced during a recent interview. Viewers of Drive to Survive have the opportunity to watch these team leaders clash behind the scenes.
So how does a racing game featuring landspeeders and podracers deliver this same feeling when the gameplay focuses on avoiding crashes while racing at ridiculous speeds?
One of my favorite details in Galactic Racer is this bit where Sebulba claims that the other human that beat him in a podrace "disappeared and made nothing of his life."
Sebulba's entire life was focused on racing, so it absolutely makes sense that he never cared enough that the… pic.twitter.com/cNhb3GL6lQ
— jacob (@jtimsuggs) October 12, 2026
The simple answer is the paddock. This area is where the player-controlled character can interact with their fellow racers.
This group of competitors includes legendary podracer Sebulba, a Dug who first appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.
The paddock also features Biddy Blas, who has become an internet phenomenon since Star Wars: Galactic Racer became available.
scrib doon all day.
For more even more Biddy Blas check out STAR WARS: Galactic Racer™ now available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. pic.twitter.com/6XZleQyfTF
— Star Wars (@starwars) October 13, 2026
The player-controlled character has the opportunity to wander through the paddock and talk to the other racers. They can learn more about Sebulba after he lost to Anakin Skywalker many cycles prior. They can learn that Blas practices his autograph each night.
"The paddock was incredibly important for us, because the paddock is where we immerse players in Star Wars and they get up close with the Star Wars characters," Webster told GamesIndustry.biz.
The Star Wars racing video game certainly delivers on this aspect. Players can have the opportunity to learn more about the various characters much like viewers learn about F1 drivers while streaming episodes of Drive to Survive.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer released on Oct. 6. It is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, as well as Amazon's Luna streaming service.
