You can change vehicles in Star Wars Galactic Racer only at set points in the Campaign: at the start, between Act I and Act II, and between Act II and Act III. Once a run begins, your Loadout vehicle is locked. The only way out is to lose your remaining League Tokens. That restarts the current Act and gives you the Loadout screen again.
Galactic Racer launched on October 6, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The Campaign follows a runs-based structure, so the vehicle you pick at the start of a Tour stays with you until that Tour ends. If you are still setting up, our page on Star Wars Galactic Racer release time, editions and platforms has the launch details. The PC version is on the official Steam store listing.
How Vehicle Swapping Works in Star Wars Galactic Racer
The game has four vehicle classes: Landspeeder, Speeder Bike, Skim Speeder and Podracer. Only three of them can go in your Loadout during the Campaign. You choose between the Landspeeder, Speeder Bike and Skim Speeder. The Podracer only appears in specific story events.
Your Loadout has two parts. One is the vehicle. The other is your Racer Style, a starting bonus tied to how you like to race. Both are fixed once the Tour starts.
When Can You Swap Vehicles in Galactic Racer?
The table covers every point in the Campaign where the vehicle choice opens up.
| Moment in the Campaign | Can you change vehicle? | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Start of the Campaign | Yes | Pick a Landspeeder, Speeder Bike or Skim Speeder |
| Between Act I and Act II | Yes | New Loadout for the next Act |
| Between Act II and Act III | Yes | Last planned swap point |
| During a run (Tour) | No | Your Loadout vehicle stays locked |
| After losing all League Tokens | Yes | The current Act restarts with a fresh Loadout screen |
| Arriving on a new planet | Customize only | You can tune all three vehicles but still race your Loadout pick |
The planet stop catches a lot of players out. You will see all three vehicle types in the customization menu. Tuning a vehicle there does not put it on the track.
Can You Switch Vehicles Mid-Run?
No. Galactic Racer does not allow a vehicle swap in the middle of a Tour. If you start an Act on a Speeder Bike, you finish that run on a Speeder Bike, even if the next planet has tracks that suit a Landspeeder better.
This is a design choice built around the roguelite structure. Each Tour is a commitment, and the Loadout screen is where you make it.
How to Reset a Run Early to Pick a New Vehicle
You can force a restart by running out of League Tokens. Every Tour begins with one League Entry Token from your Backer. Some Racer Style and favor choices can add more. When the last one is gone, the run ends and you go back to the start of the current Act.
Here is how to do it on purpose:
- Decide early. A reset wipes your run progress, so the sooner you call it, the less you lose.
- Pick an event that costs a token. Wrecking out of a normal race, finishing outside the top three in an Eliminator, or losing a Pod Racer challenge will each take one.
- Skip Time Trials and Field Tests. These events do not cost League Tokens, so failing them will not end your run.
- Lose every token you hold. If you have two tokens, you need two failures.
- Choose again. The Loadout screen opens, and you can pick a new vehicle and Racer Style.
The restart only sends you back to the beginning of the Act you are on. You do not replay the whole Campaign.
What You Keep and What You Lose After a Reset
| Kept after the run ends | Lost when the run ends |
|---|---|
| Character progress | Race wins inside the current Act |
| Currency | Upgrade points spent on the current build |
| Part unlocks | Your place on the Tour map |
| Abilities | Story cutscenes and missions (you replay them) |
Because the permanent rewards stay, a failed run still pushes your account forward. A reset costs you time and repeat races, not your long-term unlocks.
Can You Use the Podracer in the Campaign?
Only in set story moments. The Podracer cannot go in your Loadout. According to Operation Sports, it shows up in specific events, mainly in Act III. Those events can still cost you a League Token if you lose them.
Podracers are the fastest class in the game. Early hands-on coverage on the PlayStation Blog also described them as the least forgiving when they hit something. If you want free Podracer time, Arcade mode and online lobbies are where to find it. Online Podracer races hold up to 8 players.
Which Vehicle Should You Pick First?
Pick the Landspeeder if you are new to the game. It is the heaviest and most stable option, and it survives contact better than the other two. The Speeder Bike and Skim Speeder reward more skill but punish mistakes harder.
| Vehicle | Handling | Class trait | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landspeeder | Heavy, stable, built for drifting | Drift-focused handling | First runs and learning tracks |
| Speeder Bike | Light, fast, fragile | Kinetic Burst | Late braking and quick corner exits |
| Skim Speeder | Slow to accelerate, holds momentum | Knife Edge | Technical tracks and players who like flowing lines |
| Podracer | Highest top speed, very fragile | Podracing | Story events, Arcade and online only |
The Skim Speeder is a new vehicle type that Fuse Games created with Lucasfilm Games for this game. It handles more like a small aircraft than a car. Once it builds speed it is quick, but a crash that kills your momentum hurts it more than the others.
Since you are locked in for a full Act, play to your strengths. A player who crashes often will lose League Tokens faster on a Speeder Bike, and that means more forced resets.
Tips Before You Lock In Your Loadout
- Look at the planets ahead. Planets come in a fixed order inside each Act, even though the events change between runs.
- Match your Racer Style to your vehicle. A takedown-focused style pairs well with a heavy Landspeeder.
- Use planet stops to tune. Upgrade parts for your Loadout vehicle when you land on a new world.
- Save risky events for when you hold spare tokens. Eliminators pay well but can end a run.
Galactic Racer is the first big Star Wars racing release in years, and it sits among plenty of big games still coming in October, November and December. PS5 players can also check our list of new PS5 games this week. Fuse Games is led by former Criterion Games GM Matt Webster, as confirmed in Secret Mode’s launch announcement, which explains the Burnout-style takedowns.
