Key information
The year 2026 has seen the release of two critically acclaimed Star Wars titles: Star Wars: Zero Company, a squad tactics game from XCOM veterans, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a racing game developed by Burnout veterans. These releases have garnered significant praise, positioning them as potential contenders for The Game Awards in December.
While these games are well-regarded, the franchise has historically struggled to secure top-tier nominations at The Game Awards. Polygon notes that licensed games often face systemic bias, frequently being relegated to genre-specific categories rather than craft or Game of the Year awards, a trend observed with previous titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Star Wars Outlaws.
The author suggests that beyond licensing bias, these specific titles face challenges due to their genres. Strategy and racing games are rarely considered for Game of the Year by the jury, which tends to favor action-adventure or role-playing titles. Despite this, Galactic Racer is highlighted for its innovation, potentially outperforming the more formulaic Forza Horizon 6 in the racing category.
Although a Game of the Year win remains unlikely, Zero Company is viewed as a potential dark horse for nominations. More realistic goals for the titles include recognition in craft categories, such as Best Narrative for Zero Company or Best Game Direction and Best Audio Design for Galactic Racer.
