
Aspyr has today revealed the release date for Star Wars Episode I: Racer on Nintendo Switch. The N64 classic will be playable on the go from 12th May.
As you'll know if you played the original back in the day, the game has you taking control of a podracer speeding through various locations like flaming methane lakes, anti-gravity tunnels, and more. It's based on the famous podracing sequence from The Phantom Menace which, let's face it, is the coolest bit.
It'll go on sale for $14.99 when it launches next month. Here's a feature list:
- Twenty-five (25) playable racers including Anakin Skywalker, Sebulba, and Ratts Tyerell
- Race tracks spanning eight unique worlds including Tatooine, Baroonda, and Malastare
- Players can work with pit droids to upgrade podracers for higher top speeds and acceleration
- Discover short-cuts and secrets to master lap times
- Play single player campaigns or multiplayer via split-screen
In a press release, Aspyr's vice president of publishing, Elizabeth Howard, has shared the following:
"Star Wars fans can soon go full throttle with Aspyr’s update to the classic, fan-favorite, Star Wars Episode l: Racer. The beloved game has been modernized for the most optimal gaming experience on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. Star Wars fans should get ready to steer their racer to victory and leave their opponents in the dust."
Happy to see it arriving so soon? Will you be reliving this N64 racer in all its modernised glory? Tell us below.
Comments 116
I can't believe being able to play as Ratts Tyerell is a selling point
Too pricy for me.
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Woah, that was fast
Nice, I am really looking forward to this one.
@mesome713 How so? There's not really another game like this on modern systems, aside from Fast RMX, which offers less tracks, less customization for the same (or so) price and that game is worth it.
Unless you bought this back in the day and just don't want to replay it.
@Cevil We'll have to wait for Limited Run to step in.
@Drommajin Price goes up to $35, $60 for a copy in a N64 box. Limited to whoever can place an order within a week after it is silently offered.
I’d like to see an original Star Wars project on Switch. These updated ports are great, but it would be great to see something new built from the ground up for Switch; I doubt we’ll see anything like that though due to EA’s iron grip on original games based on the property but I can dream.
It's based on the PC version, which is even better than the N64 version. Can't wait for this classic to arrive on Switch, good price too.
@The-Senate-66 I'll have to execute order 66
One of the highlights in all the Star Wars games. I am actually getting hopeful of seeing Rogue Leader eventually! (But more likely Shadows of the Empire lol)
@GrailUK Rogue Squad and Shadows and I’ll be so happy
@Kilroy Just seems overpriced for an old N64 game. It looks worst than an Indie game.
@NintendoWiiDS These classics are better than anything they are making now. My experience with the latest EA Star Wars games has been filled with disappointment.
I hope they get this right because I loved this back on the day!
So I guess no new additions huh? Ah well, if it does decently well, maybe we'll get a new game or something...
I remember getting a sadistic joy from crashing my pod racer, and hearing Anakin's "WaaAhhhHhh!"
When the article said it released next month, I though for sure the date would be May the 4th.
@Emperor-Palpsy
You would.
But why kill you future Darth ?
@judaspete
I always feel May 25 is the proper date
( i know the pun and all that ) but Star Wars was released in theaters on may 25 1977 after all.
Aww, no nice new game?
That's a shame. I'd love a new PodRacer..
Looking forward to this. How about a new release discount when this arrives??
So on May 12th, it seems as though I’ll be Pod Racing. Pumped! I LOVED this game back in the day. It has been sorely missed. Day 1.
@AxeltheBuizel only reason im buying it 😂😜
May 12?! 🤔🤯
Awesome. 😆
I wasn't expecting this until September, because the SW re-releases have been every 6 months, so far.
@BANJO
Same. 😆
That would be awesome. 😆
Awsome game. I had so much fun on this back in the day. Worth every penny!
Meeesa gonna buy this on day waaaan Aniiiiiiii, okeeeedaaaay
@JayJ I hear you, I dislike EA for the most part; I meant another developer but I think it’s impossible because of their grip on the license
Day one buy this one is!
YES! My Parents got me this game for Christmas with my N64 back in 2000. I can't wait to be able to play this again.
The price is a bit high for a download of a 21 year old game. Come on stimulus check.
'It's working! it's working!!'
ahhh looking forward to this one
Day one for me although it is a shame there's no online multiplayer
@ACNHislit Exactly, seems only fair really... 😆
What I really want is a game that has me taking control of a podcaster.
You were right about one thing master, the negotiations were short.
Oh man, this game was terrible...but I still tried my hardest to beat it.
I have this game already on the 64 so I don't I will be getting it on the switch plus I got the game for free from a friend.
@mesome713 ya I can get the 64 game for about 6 or 7 dollars at a shop around where I live so if they just make it HD or something its not really worth 14
I loved this game on the N64. I bought it again recently for my PC, but it's wonkily optimized. Played enough to know it's still great. Will triple-dip on the Switch port.
Will it be online? Only time will tell but either way I'm getting it 😁
Really looking forward to this. But that press release quote is so unbelievably cringe...
I missed it back then. Maybe I'll give it a try this time.
I love this game
Yeesh, uprezzed N64 graphics don't look too good, do they? Still a great game, though.
Fair price, day one purchase for me. I wish is out out sooner though, like today
I still would prefer like super Mario 64 or James Bond 007
2 player only and no online multiplayer is stupid
@Dr_Corndog As someone pointed out, it's not the N64 version. (PC)
I get the feeling the original Rogue Squadron will be released soon since that also had a PC version. I know that people want other N64 games from that era but these aren't emulated versions of those they are ported from PC versions and it is much easier to convert them to modern systems than it is a console game unless it is just through an emulator with very little in the way of enhancements. As it is also far easier to implement new features in those games.
This is great, but they should bring back Star Wars 1313 in production for switch exclusives. It was almost finished then Bob Iger canceled it.
@mesome713 It looks worse than an indie because it's the updated Steam port, which is an HD port of the Dreamcast version (note that I only said port, not remake), which is actually better both audibly and visually than the N64 version.
You're also paying to play it on a portable.
@Zenszulu Factor 5 would need to greenlight it. They've been quiet for a while now, no idea if they'll ever get back into the gaming business.
I'm really starting to get hope that we'll see Rogue Squadron soon.
I'm hoping Shadows of the Empire gets a "second wind" on Switch in the future...
Awesome news! Like getting another N64 virtual console game on the Switch so scratch this one off the list!!
I’d love to see a collection of the classic Atari Star Wars arcade games too!! That would be cool!
First-day purchase for me. I loved the original game and I find myself playing a lot of racing games lately. I guess the high-speed action is a good way to virtually escape quarantine.
@Kilroy from what I understand and the went into liquidation years back they lost all of their assets and the only thing they brought back when they were reestablished in 2017 was Turrican if anything it would be Lucas Arts that is the primary rights holder and that would now be Disney.
@nmanifold
What makes you think it's the PC version, and not the N64 version? 🤔
Does it say that on the Official Star Wars Website? 🤔
@NintendoWiiDS
I mean, 5+ years ago, I thought that I'd most likely never see a lot, if any, retro Star Wars games getting re-released at all.
Here we are, 5 years later, and we already have have Jedi Outcast, Jedi Academy, and Episode I: Racer. So, I think anything might be possible at this point, but I get what you mean with EA, though.
@mesome713
How you played it, or owned it before? 🤔
I can get what you mean with the price, but it's Star Wars, though.
We haven't had a good Star Wars game, in quite a few years. (Besides for Jedi: Fallen Order, that is)
I mean the graphics don't look that great, but do many N64 games look good nowadays? 🤔 (Some do, but not many)
@ACNHislit I haven't played it. I'll wait for the reviews and might try to wait for it to go on sale. Sony charges 10 bucks for ps1 games.
Why is the font and time all blurry in this updated game. Couldn't they figure it out how to make it look clear.
Kinda missed a trick by not releasing it on May the 4th.
I know this virus is having an effect on game development and whatnot, but its only 1 week and you could of maximized sales further from those looking to do something Star Wars-y on that day.
Oh well, happy to relive it regardless. May pick up on the day.
Enjoyed the original back in the day.
Anyone know if these screen shots are what we’re getting or is it in for a graphical overhaul?
So it'll be a limited run in 3 months time I suppose.
@mesome713
Okay, fair enough.
I mean, Nintendo used to charge $10 for each N64 game on Virtual Console.
Hopefully, we'll get N64 Online, no later than September.
(Maybe around E3, if we're lucky).
Is that for PS3, or PS4? 🤔
Great game. Star Wars Episode I is an absolute masterpiece when compared to the recent trilogy.
@GrailUK Right, but it was released at the same time on the N64, and the versions look basically the same. Plus, the N64 is an easier reference point than "1999-era PCs."
@MichaelHarvey You are not wrong!
@jarvismp
How could they mess up a re-release? 🤔
@KitsuneNight If you knew someone was going to throw you over a balcony into an energy core in about 30 years, you might be tempted to ram him off the road too.
Can't wait for this!
@DrDaisy
..well played.
Please say you can use the two sticks to control it tank style instead of having to put in the cheat
Definite day one purchase. Loved this on the PC some twenty years ago. Price isn't terrible, but online would be nice.
@NintendoWiiDS You’ll be pleased to hear about a certain Star Wars game I saw at E3 last year is coming to Switch. And is vastly superior to the previous games in the series (which were all pretty good)
@Bunkerneath What, they have a dual stick control scheme? Sounds interesting.
Nice this will be the fourth N64 game I bought for the Switch. Here's hoping for a Rogue Squadron remake someday.
@mesome713 Always right there at the top of the comments with something negative to say. Get a life.
Oh yes, sure buy...Nostalgia too strong!
Wasn't there an arcade version that had better graphics than the N64 version? This looks like the N64 game in HD... Still, probably will look good if it's 60fps.
It’s a new lap record!
And with Aspyr as the publisher of this, and both Jedi Knight on the system so far, and the LRG run of Star Wars re-releases to classic games, I would bet this is getting a physical treatment soon enough.
@mesome713 - I dunno, most indies haven't really broken into the 3D realm yet.
@GrailUK - Problem is I bet Nintendo has some form of say about anything "Rogue Squadron" from 2 and beyond.
@Dringo
May I ask what Star Wars game that is? 🤔
Wait, are you referring to LEGO Skywalker Saga, or something else? 🤔
If I was calling the shots at EA, one of the things I would have done with the Star Wars license was made a all new pod racing game spanning all the movies. I realize it wouldn't be the cash cow they hoped Battlefront II would become, but with the right budget, you could make a beautiful racing game that would be all but guaranteed to make a healthy profit. (EA CEO: "But will it make ALL the money? Cancelled!
@vio
Cause its not his precious Nintendo so it MUST be double plus ungood.
@Kilroy
Personally i have the PC and the Dreamcast versions.
I wil be picking this up though
i have 8 Jedi Academies.
@KitsuneNight There's.... nothing wrong with that, lol.
The dark side of the force is a pathway to abilities that many consider “overpriced”
Owned the GBC version a while back so I'm excited to try out its big brother (assuming it's a quality port, of course).
@FredsBodyDouble Better graphics yes but they are not the same game. Both are different in their handling and process of gameplay, the arcade game Star Wars Racer, plays more like Outrun and Virtua Racing (where you race against time, make the time and your race gets extended) which make sense as it was done by Sega whereas the N64 version of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer is an actual futuristic vehicle multiplayer racing game (similar to WipEout and F-Zero). I know they look the same but remember that they don't play the same.
oh man if they were only able to add online multiplayer!
@Paraka I don't see that as a problem.
@joey302 “ I’d love to see a collection of the classic Atari Star Wars arcade games too!! That would be cool!”
That would be fantastic, especially if they added GIro controls to mimic the Arcade Controls. I still get my fix playing game cube Rogue Squadron 3
Very interesting.
@JayJ I hope so, with the N64 version you had to have two controllers and input a cheat code so you could use two analogue sticks like tank controls, it made it so much better, as it seemed more real
Just hoping this is a controls option for this re-release and not hidden behind a cheat again
@ACNHislit Yeah. That is what I’m talking about
@Dringo You mean the Skywalker Saga. To be fair that is the most hyped I’ve been for a LEGO game in years, it’s great how all 9 films are there in a single package
@ACNHislit Yep i'm 95% sure I read on a website when this was first announced it's based on the PC version. It would make sense as it's the superior version, graphically.
@Bunkerneath Yeah that would be pretty awesome.
@Kilroy
if interested why i have so many bloody copies of jedi academy ( other then that i like the game )
i have 2 Xbox copies.
A pc cd rom.
A mac cd rom.
The steam versions
The gog version.
And the NX version.
And I can't leave the game lying around in a thriftstore if I see it.
@JayJ I don't mind payment more for the physical version. Let it come!
@Gerald good point forgot about the Gyro controls!! That would be a bonus!
Yea I would love to see the GameCube Star Wars games hit too!!! I always sucked at those games though 😂
@Dringo
Okay. 👍
Just wanted to check, and was curious. 👍
@nmanifold
Okay. 👍
Just curious. 👍
@joey302 in Rogue Squadron 3, it was possible to unlock the original Atari Starwars Arcades, you walked into hanger bag as Darth Vader with the Star Wars disco music playing
@Gerald yes and i actually have the promotional GameCube demo disc which includes the Star Wars arcade game as well 👍in fact I think I have 4 or 5 of them lol 😂
@KitsuneNight Keep going and get on Guinness!
@Gerald Along with its two sequels! All great games in their own rights.
They’re releasing it in may, but not on the 4th? Opportunity missed...
So... this is just a rerelease of the original or will it be a remake?
I almost never rebuy a game, but this will be worth it.... once it drops below $10.
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