• The final Star Wars Zero Company trailer has been released
• The trailer has confirmed the return of Captain Rex, and fans are hyped
• Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27

Bit Reactor has released the final trailer for Star Wars Zero Company, which confirms the return of another fan-favorite Star Wars character.

Last month, the studio revealed the Zero Company cast and confirmed that Anakin Skywalker will be in the game, voiced by The Clone Wars actor Matt Lanter (I've played as him in my preview, and he's awesome).

Now, fans can also look forward to seeing the return of yet another fan-favorite character, Captain Rex, leader of the Grand Army of the Republic's 501st Legion, as revealed in the game's final trailer.

Rex appears for a split second, gearing up for a fight, suggesting he could arrive during a story-central battle.

Bit Reactor hasn't confirmed if the Clone Trooper will be playable, but I certainly hope so. Fans are also sharing their excitement, since it's been far too long since Rex has been involved in any Star Wars stories.

"You're as beautiful as the day i lost you," one fan wrote on X, as another replied to the trailer, "OUR BOYYYY IS BACK. CAPTAIN REX IS ACTUALLY BACK."

"REX LETS FREAKING GOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" someone else wrote.

It won't be long before fans get to meet Captain Rex again, because Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.

Bit Reactor has confirmed that the game will take up to 40 hours to finish, but it won't have a New Game Plus mode.

I've played more than 15 hours of Star Wars Zero Company, and I'm hugely impressed with the story so far, the isometric turn-based tactics combat, and customization.

"Some Star Wars fans who have never played a TBT game might feel put off from trying out Zero Company, so the question is: Can fans unfamiliar with the TBT genre still enjoy this game? I would say absolutely!" I wrote.

"As a massive Star Wars fan and someone who enjoys TBT but has never played XCOM, Zero Company easily made me familiar with the mechanics and, so far, offers a cohesive experience that combines the joy of Star Wars storytelling with compelling tactical gameplay."

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer has call-backs that span the whole film series
• Iconic locations and recognizable characters will appear in the upcoming racing game
• The game's set to launch on October 6, 2026

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is shaping up to be the ultimate racing experience for Star Wars fans, letting you speed through a mix of new beloved locations (including the iconic Boonta Eve Classic course) as legendary characters like Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros.

It's not all based on The Phantom Menace, though, and in my recent couple of hours hands-on with the game, I spent plenty of time in the sandy starship-strewn desert of Jakku, seen in The Force Awakens, and other recognizable planets that haven't been revealed quite yet.

The game takes place in the Outer Rim, the perilous outskirts of the galaxy, in the New Republic Era right after the events of Return of the Jedi. According to Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick, the setting was chosen because the game is "about telling a local story" rather than a grand intergalactic conflict.

"Sometimes putting a story in the Outer Rim helps distance it a little bit from all the bigger stakes that you see sometimes in our films," he says. "And it shows that these characters have a real life."

The team also says the decision was inspired by real-world history. "We wanted to tell a story of the beginning of this league and how it's put together," begins Kieran Crimmins, creative director at developer Fuse Games.

"And there was a kind of mirroring there of real life. The empire has just fallen, so a little bit like the end of World War Two. Here, there was a big rise in racing with all the ex-pilots, and ex-military people who were still very capable behind the wheel, becoming pilots."

This is best exemplified by Griff Halloran (who some might recognize from the Star Wars Resistance animated series), an ex-Tie fighter pilot who still wears his battered old armor in-game.

The chosen time period also gives the team plenty of license to draw on all the Star Wars movies in some way. "There's a great thing where you can pull from all the different time periods," adds Crimmins. "Particularly the kind of original trilogy and the prequel trilogy, and there is an absolute plethora of depth, not only in lore and character, but also the machines used and the design language used."

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches for Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 6, 2026.

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer lets players pilot vehicles as iconic characters from the movie series like Sebulba and Ben Quadinaros
• Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick says "it's important to have some returning characters"
• Creative director Kieran Crimmins would "absolutely love" to see players try and emulate Sebulba's iconic podracing stance by playing with their feet

The upcoming arcade racing game Star Wars: Galactic Racer finally lets every Star Wars fan live out their ultimate fantasy: piloting a pod racer as legendary The Phantom Menace character Sebulba.

In just a few hours of hands-on at a recent preview event, I spotted the now grey-haired alien in both the game's Scenario mode and its intense online player-versus-player battles, where he appears alongside other movie favorites including the only marginally less iconic Ben Quadinaros. There are also plenty of newcomers, like the story mode protagonist Shade or their unapologetically Scouse-sounding companion Hibi.

"I think it's important to have some returning characters if they're important, if they're meaningful," explains Lucasfilm Games executive producer Craig Derrick. "I don't think we want to move to cameos for the sake of cameos; it feels cheap. But in the case of Sebulba and some of the other characters you may meet in this game, they actually have a real point and real presence in the story.

"It drives that story forward in a way that feels not only connected to the larger film franchise in the way that you've seen those characters before, but they actually have a real point. They have a real reason for being there, and so the fans get that instant flush of familiarity."

Although his presence in the game seems to follow his "mischievous" characterization in the film, Derrick teases that there might be some surprises in store for fans that play with their expectations.

"His mischievousness is [a huge part of his character]. It's an immediate read," he explains. "

"I hope our players come in and know the character before maybe the characters in our game do. Maybe some of his reputation precedes him a little bit in this, and then we get to play with that. We get to play with it both in terms of like 'how do we lean into what you already know?' and 'how do you subvert it?' Maybe the character changes his stripes a little bit... Or not."

Personality aside, one of the most memorable aspects of Sebulba is his unique pod racing position that involves piloting his craft with his feet. Asked whether players should try and emulate this for the most authentic experience, Kieran Crimmins, creative director at Galactic Racer developer Fuse Games, appears eager to see it tried.

"I think if they're not controlling it with their feet, then are they really playing the game properly?" he asks. "I would absolutely love to see someone try and do that. [...] Please send me the footage."

If you fancy getting your grippers out and giving it a go, Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches for Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 6, 2026.

D23 Expo 2026 has come and gone — and, like past editions of the Ultimate Disney Fan Experience, there were plenty of big announcements concerning Marvel and Star Wars.

As the dust settles on the aforementioned fan convention and said reveals, there's no better time to take stock of what was shown, and rank each announcement based on how exciting they were. So, read on for my take on all six reveals — and, once you reach the end, let me know if you agree with my ranking by leaving a comment!

6. Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter character name revealed

I feel bad putting Star Wars: Starfighter at the bottom of my ranking because it's a film I'm really looking forward to seeing next May. Nevertheless, Lucasfilm only offered us the tiniest of crumbs about its next big-screen offering, which is why it doesn't feature higher on this list.

So, what was revealed? The name of leading man Ryan Gosling's character, which is Kade Auberon. As names go in the hugely popular sci-fi franchise, that's a pretty cool one to have, but it's still small fry in comparison to the announcements I've yet to cover.

Interestingly, a first teaser for Starfighter was also unveiled at the fan convention — and, if it had been officially released online, I'd have placed this entry higher. For what it's worth, the teaser has been leaked, but I won't be sharing any links because I don't want to get in trouble with Lucasfilm or Disney.

While we wait for it to properly hit the internet, find out everything we know so far about Star Wars: Starfighter.

5. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man season 2 release month and first-look details

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (YFNSM) might not everyone's cup of tea. However, aside from its unusual animation and art style, which took me a long time to get used to, I actually enjoyed the Disney+ animated show's debut season.

So, even though every other Marvel announcement at this Year's D23 was better and/or more exciting to a lot of people, I'm really looking forward to YFNSM season 2's launch in January 2027.

Based on the above artwork and first-look footage, there's a lot to get excited about, including Spider-Man bonding with the symbiote and getting his iconic black suit, confirmation that new and returning villains will appear, and the revelation that Spider-Gwen is set to join the show.

4. Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2 release date and first trailer

Three years have passed since Star Wars: Ahsoka's first season premiered on Disney+, one of the world's best streaming services. But, while it's been plenty of months since filming wrapped on its sophomore installment, we've still got a long wait on our hands for it to arrive. That's because Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2 won't arrive until January 20, 2027.

Disappointing though that is, Lucasfilm has sought to appease us by releasing season 2's first trailer — and, I don't know about you, but it looks much, much better than its sluggish forebear did. Okay, trailers can be deceiving, but if Ahsoka season 2 marries huge space battles with more intimate sci-fi drama, I'll be very happy.

While we wait for it to be released, get the lowdown on Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2.

3. VisionQuest first trailer and story details unveiled

The final part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's (MCU) only TV trilogy to date, VisionQuest will wrap up the story that began with hit series WandaVision and continued with 2024's Agatha All Along.

With VisionQuest set to come out on October 14, it's high time we saw some actual footage from it. It was kind of Marvel to not only oblige at D23 Expo 2026, then, but knock our socks off with what appears to be a cracking third act to this Wanda Maximoff and Vision-led narrative.

That's not all we've learned about the Paul Bettany-fronted show, either, because the Marvel Phase 6 TV show's official story synopsis has also been revealed.

"Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding," the plot brief reads. "Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron.

"His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate. As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron's influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive."

For the full scoop on the final MCU TV project of the year, find out what we know so far about VisionQuest.

2. Avengers: Doomsday trailer #2

You wait months for an Avengers: Doomsday trailer and, like London buses, two arrive in quick succession. Less than a month after the first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday broke the internet, Marvel has released another one for the hotly anticipated team-up movie — and it's further raised our collective hopes that the fifth Avengers film will be as epic as the three of its four predecessors (sorry, Avengers: Age of Ultron...) were.

There's plenty in this new teaser to excite fans ahead of one of 2026's most exciting new movies, too. From a fresh look at Doctor Doom's duel with Thor, and more teases concerning the former's backstory and motivations, to the gravity of the situation that our heroes face and their desperate attempt to delay the inevitable — that being, Doom's likely victory in Avengers 5 — and December 18 can't come soon enough.

1. Marvel's new X-Men movie cast reveal and release date announcement

Quite frankly, there was only one thing that could top Avengers: Doomsday's new trailer release at D23 Expo 2026: some official news on Marvel's new X-Men movie.

After weeks of speculation that included numerous casting rumors and gossip that Marvel would unveil the stars of the MCU's first mutant-led film at D23 Expo 2026, the comic titan did just that, too.

We already knew that Sadie Sink's Jean Grey would be joined by Kit Connor's Cyclops and Samara Weaving's Emma Frost in the Marvel Phase 7 flick. Meanwhile, Obsession star Inde Navarrette had all but teased her involvement after confirming she'd met X-Men movie director Jason Schreier.

As always, though, Marvel had a few surprises up its sleeve. Not only did it officially announce Navarrette would portray Rogue, it also confirmed Christopher Abbott (Girls) would feature as Charles Xavier/Professor X, and that Maya Boyd (Merrily We Roll Along) is on board as Ororo Munroe/Storm. Perhaps the biggest shock of all, though, was that none other than Adam Driver would finally join the MCU as Nathaniel Millbury — or, to give his proper name, Nathaniel Essex, aka the villainous Mister Sinister.

Oh, and did I mention that the MCU's first X-Men film was confirmed to be releasing on May 8, 2028? No? Well, it will. Can someone invent time travel, so we can fast-forward to 2028, please?

For more on the forthcoming mutant flick, read up on everything we know so far about Marvel's new X-Men movie. Again, be aware that some information, especially in the cast section, will be out of date until I update it.

Disney and Epic Games have been promising a ‘persistent, open and interoperable’ universe since February 2024, when Disney took a $1.5 billion equity stake in Epic Games, and Bob Iger called it the company's biggest foray into games ever. Two and a half years and a handful of Fortnite islands later, we're finally getting something that behaves like what was actually promised: a Disney park experience that connects, mechanically, to Fortnite itself.

Most of what's arrived since that 2024 announcement has been a slow drip of standalone content rather than anything tied to the parks. Disneyland Game Rush launched in November 2025 as a Creative island celebrating Disneyland's 70th anniversary, dropping players into mini games modeled on Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion — fun, but built entirely inside Fortnite, with nothing connecting back to an actual park visit. A Percy Jackson: Siege of Monsters island followed that December, timed to the Disney+ show's second season.

On the parks side, Imagineering has been running its own parallel experiments with a lot of the same underlying tech. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom now uses Unreal Engine to power real-time scoring.

And this past June, I exclusively got an early look at the next-generation animatronic system that debuted at Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland. This pirate transforms into a skeleton in real time, driven not by traditional animatronic mechanics but by a projection pipeline built on Unreal Engine-based rendering tools.

It's proven to be a divisive addition among park fans. Still, it's also more proof that the line between "ride system" and "game engine" has been blurring inside Imagineering for a while now, well before Fortnite entered the picture.

What none of those individual pieces actually did was talk to each other. That changes now, though, as Disney and Epic have unveiled Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run | Fortnite. It's not the most original name, but it essentially combines Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — the ride inside Galaxy's Edge at both Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, FL, and Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA — with a new Fortnite island called Smugglers Gambit. And it's the first time riding a physical attraction produces something you bring into Fortnite — not just a shared theme, but an unlockable reward tied to a specific action you took inside the park.

According to Julia Humphreys, VP of Production at Disney Digital Entertainment, who walked me through the thinking in an exclusive interview, that's exactly the point. "Smugglers Gambit is definitely a first step and not a finish line," Humphreys told me.

"With this foundational experience we wanted to prove out something that we've believed for a long time: that a story doesn't have to end when you leave the park, and it doesn't have to start over from zero when you pick up a controller." Progress, discoveries, and relationships with characters, she said, are meant to actually carry over between the ride and the game rather than resetting every time a guest switches from one to the other.

Starting August 16, 2026, guests entering Galaxy's Edge can accept Hondo's mission through the Disneyland or Disney World’s My Disney Experience app, then ride Smugglers Run as usual. Finish it, and you'll get word — in the app or by email — that Hondo's waiting on the Smugglers Gambit island in Fortnite with, fittingly, "your cut of the profits." If you link an Epic Games account to your MyDisney equivalent, the reward will automatically unlock. If you can’t link or choose not to, they'll email you a redeemable code. It's free with park admission, and Fortnite is, of course, still free to play.

I haven't gone hands-on with Smugglers Gambit myself, but between the screenshots Disney shared and my conversation with Humphreys, the game puts players in the role of a smuggler working the Outer Rim. Environment art shows a hazy, sun-bleached Mersa Veta Station, freighters docked along exposed gangways with towering scrap-metal walkers looming in the fog, and ships like the Quadjumper parked in dim, blue-lit hangars. Quests run across a location called Ord Ryla, and combat screenshots show players in flooded, fire-lit corridors, consistent with the co-op missions, class and leveling system, and run-ins with pirates, Imperial remnants, and hostile wildlife Disney has described.

Graphically, it's a noticeable step down from the ride's own visual bar — but that tracks with what you'd expect from a Star Wars experience running in Fortnite rather than on Imagineering's custom multi-GPU hardware. Whether the Falcon itself shows up as a flyable or interactive ship in Smugglers Gambit remains to be seen.

The technical connection between the two experiences is where my own time on Smugglers Run at Disney World comes back into play. Back in June, I covered Imagineering's overhaul of the ride, including the engineer role that lets guests pick between three different planets and steers the whole mission depending on how they play — powered, Imagineering confirmed, by a heavily customized, multi-GPU build of Unreal Engine 5.

Smugglers Gambit, on the other hand, was built in UEFN — Unreal Editor for Fortnite, Epic's own related but distinct toolset that sits on top of the same underlying engine. That shared foundation, Humphreys said, meant the teams "didn't have to start from a blank page": ships, characters, and environment objects originally modeled for the physical ride were translated directly into the Fortnite experience rather than rebuilt from scratch.

Getting the two sides to actually talk to each other wasn't simple. Humphreys described it as "a team effort across Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney Digital Entertainment, and so many other teams across Disney, Lucasfilm, and Epic Games" — everything from new physical signage in the park queues to the backend account-linking infrastructure to the Fortnite ecosystem work needed to make the in-game rewards possible.

It's also a bet backed by real numbers. This new experience builds on the Star Wars IP Toolkit, the creator toolset that powered a wave of Star Wars content in Fortnite this past May, shortly before The Mandalorian and Grogu hit the big screen. Disney says it pulled in close to 8 million players in its first 72 hours — not a small feat.

This new experience feels like the start of something we've been promised and have been waiting to see for a while. Will it drive more people to the parks just to unlock the Fortnite tie-in? My guess is that the impact will be minimal — the broader investment in parks and the kind of full-ride retheming Imagineering did with the Falcon itself make a far more compelling case for a visit than a Fortnite reward does.

The real impact is this: the experience you have flying the Falcon with Mando and Grogu over Endor or Coruscant can now carry beyond your time at the park. And that spreads the Star Wars story — your story — farther.

That's a long wait for a promise this specific — but Humphreys sounded like she'd have waited even longer. "As someone who loves both theme parks and games, this is the start of a collaboration I've wanted to see for years," she said. "It's very much the opening chapter with Epic Games, and I can't wait for people to experience where this relationship goes next."

Taken together, this is a cool first step — not because any single piece of it is groundbreaking on its own, but because it's the first time Disney has actually wired the reward loop between a park and Fortnite, instead of just theming a Fortnite island around a park. The ride itself is genuinely better than it was even a few months ago; my June story covered how the three-planet, choose-your-own-adventure overhaul already made Smugglers Run more replayable. Now that same ride experience feeds into a Fortnite island that, if it delivers at scale, could become a real destination on its own — one where Hondo is voiced by the same actor as on the ride, for what it's worth.

The redemption structure is a nice touch, too: finish the mission, and you get a Fortnite reward of an exclusive outfit for taking the ride. I'd expect Disney and Epic to keep tuning that loop over time, the same way Imagineering has kept iterating on the ride itself; more skins, more unlocks, deeper crossover content wouldn't be a heavy lift if this lands with players.

What I'm more curious about is where the "connected" half of this idea goes next. If riding the Falcon can unlock something in Fortnite, there's no obvious reason Disney stops at Star Wars. A Toy Story Mania tie-in wouldn't be a stretch, and we’ve already seen a version of WEB-Slingers in Fortnite, so why not give that attraction a similar tie-in?

Now that the plumbing between a ride and a persistent game world actually works, the list of places Disney could point it next gets long fast.

I've never played the wildly popular XCOM series, but despite my lack of experience with those games, when Bit Reactor, a studio founded by former Firaxis Games and XCOM veterans, announced its first project was a Star Wars game, I was keen to see what they had in store. Star Wars Zero Company is a turn-based tactics (TBT) strategy game, and I've recently been playing a preview build of the game, specifically the first "18 cycles" that resulted in more than 15 hours of gameplay, and so far, I'm very impressed.

Zero Company is set in 20BBY during the Clone Wars, which game director Greg Foertsch said during the preview event's presentation "was the perfect fit for us," and after my time hands-on with the game, I have to agree. The characters, story, and overall atmosphere of the game have a strong Star Wars authenticity that feels very gritty and grounded in this time period; it almost feels like a story arc pulled straight from The Clone Wars animated series.

The player character is Hawks, an interesting sort and former captain in the Grand Army of the Republic, who now leads Zero Company. Hawks is a clever and decisive leader with a checkered past who's just looking to finish the job and get paid, until Republic Intelligence offers them a gig: an opportunity not only to make a ton of credits, but also to take down a sinister threat known as The Infinite Coil, led by Kundri Fathom.

The Coil is a Separatist-aligned, paramilitary cult infected with the Shadow Plague, a mysterious disease that grants unnatural resilience and deadly abilities and which preys on vulnerable populations across Republic worlds to spread their plague and grow their ranks.

Building Zero Company, gathering intel, and intercepting The Coil is the primary mission early on, and it was a gradual buildup as I took on separate tactical missions across the galaxy. The cult is an intriguing and distinctive threat that feels original enough to create a compelling storyline around, and I'm eager to dive deeper into it, especially since I stopped playing just when events started getting really exciting. I won't get into spoilers, but if you've seen the trailer, you'll know that Anakin Skywalker plays a role in this game, and I can't wait to continue playing to find out more.

This is where the fun begins

As the story progresses, authored heroes, such as Ore-Baroness Jae Mordant, the Mandalorian bounty hunter Cly Kullervo, the Jedi Padawan Tel-Rea Vokoss, and more, will join Zero Company. But besides these Operators, the game deepens its player freedom with a system that lets you hire additional Operators via the Recruitment Facility.

These Operators can be defined by the player in a separate character creator in the main menu, where you have access to a broader range of Star Wars species to choose from, and I had a great time spending a few creative hours designing my very own band of Clone Troopers, each with unique looks, builds, and backstories that I could later add to my team.

Customization is plentiful in Zero Company, and there are many options at your disposal when designing your own version of Hawks — I definitely spent too long creating mine — whether that be a human, Mirialan, Twi'lek, Togruta, Devaronian, or Zabrak. But it's not just appearances that matter. Specializations, which include Assault, Gunslinger, Heavy, Medic, Scoundrel, Scout, Sharpshooter, and Soldier, each have specific Talents, which can result in very different playthroughs depending on your build.

Tactical gameplay is extremely satisfying and heavily reliant on calculating your next move. Each character has three Action Points (AP) per turn, so you can't just go in all guns blazing and expect a successful outcome; missions can take a while to complete for this reason, but the learning curve is so rewarding when all the pieces perfectly fall into place.

I also hugely enjoyed the game's permadeath mode, which means Operators can permanently die if they suffer three injuries. With this mode on, I had to think ahead and chose to give my Hawks the Medic specialization for that extra sense of security. I'm usually a coward when this feature is in other games, but I was drawn to it when Bit Reactor explained it was the "intended" way to play; this is Star Wars, so the feature makes the risks of losing companions during wartime more realistic.

I played plenty of tactical missions, the core of Zero Company's gameplay, all with varying objectives and threat levels, and permadeath mode definitely upped the stakes and forced me to plan how I was going to spend my squad's three AP more strategically.

One of my favorite actions is Overwatch, which lets Operators automatically attack enemies that walk within their zones; whenever the HUD alerted me that enemy reinforcements were incoming, I would tactfully set up my Operators to target those areas with Overwatch, ambushing them and negating any first-turn moves.

There are also many team compositions you can come up with and I had a ton of fun experimenting with this, with my favorite loadout early on being Hawks, Trick, Jae, and Tel-Rea; I equipped my Hawks with a longarm blaster, and with Overwatch enabled, I would pick off any stragglers as I sent Tel sweeping forward to deliver heavy hits with her lightsaber or Force abilities and Jae's Final Shot talent would finish them off with one shot.

I also dabbled in the Scoundrel spec before my preview time ran out, which felt vastly different from Medic, and I already know I'm going to want to experiment with the rest when the game releases.

Good soldiers follow orders

The Den is Zero Company's base of operations on the Ring of Kafrene (shoutout Rogue One) and is where you plot your next incursions on the huge Galaxy Map, gather vital currencies like Intel, Credits, and Influence in exchange for game-changing gear, upgrade facilities that have a lasting impact on missions, and recruit and outfit Operators.

Outside of tactical missions, the camera perspective shifts from the isometric overview to third-person, which I appreciated a lot because it brought a more personal touch to the experience as you regularly check in, get to know Operators, and learn their perspectives on unfolding events.

The Bond system is another very cool feature that really drove home the sense of camaraderie you have with your fellow Operators and instilled the importance of strategy. While not unlike an approval meter, each pair of Operators, whether that be Hawks and Trick, or Trick and Jae, begins with an initial relationship, typically neutral or negative, and stronger Bonds, which can also be tested outside of combat, can result in consequences, as well as new talents, focus points to upgrade skill trees, training sessions to gain a permanent stat bonus, and a secondary specialization that you can unlock.

This system is essentially the key to successful missions. Trick was a personal favorite during my session, and I frequently included him on my teams, not only because he's an interesting character I want to become my Hawks' best friend, but because his Hero Talent — which lets him withstand getting Downed and can automatically revive during the next turn in battle — blended really well with my Hawks' Medic specialization.

Playing with permadeath enabled almost made the risk greater, and so I used my Medic skills to bolster Trick further. Similarly, Tel-Rea has Jedi Force abilities at her disposal, and while she can deliver some powerful attacks and has a Hero Talent that allows her to improve lightsaber deflection and attack damage, she can be a bit spongy against melee enemies; therefore, keeping her from getting injured was beneficial not just for a successful mission, but for building Bonds.

Some Star Wars fans who have never played a TBT game might feel put off from trying out Zero Company, so the question is: Can fans unfamiliar with the TBT genre still enjoy this game? I would say absolutely!

As a massive Star Wars fan and someone who enjoys TBT but has never played XCOM, Zero Company easily made me familiar with the mechanics and, so far, offers a cohesive experience that combines the joy of Star Wars storytelling with compelling tactical gameplay.

I have a really bad feeling about this

While I didn't experience any game-breaking bugs or crashes during my session on PC, a few enemy AI hiccups being the exception, I did come across performance snags that hindered my experience in some places. But it's worth mentioning that Bit Reactor informed us that the preview build wasn't the final product and it's still finalizing the game.

The first few hours of play went by smoothly; I was hitting 60 frames per second (fps) at high settings in gameplay on my mid-to-high-range build with an Nvidia RTX 3060Ti graphics card and Ryzen 7 5700X 8-Core processor, which is way above the minimum specs, with the odd dip during cinematics, but nothing too major.

However, once I reached the planet Courtsilius, a very visually demanding area where I had my first real run-in with The Coil, my performance took a drastic turn. From there, cinematics were struggling in the 20 to 30fps range, while gameplay, whether that be walking around The Den or playing tactical missions, ranged between 30 and 40fps.

It was particularly noticeable during hyperspace loading screens, where screen tearing is terrible, on the aforementioned planet, and on a few others like Bespin, but frame rates strangely improved on planets like Lothal, whether it was due to a less populated and detailed environment, I can't be sure.

Zero Company looks terrific all around; characters and isometric maps look stunning, no matter the graphics preset. However, I had to spend a fair bit of time testing different settings and couldn't find a solution that gave me the best balance between good picture quality and smooth performance. That's with Nvidia's DLSS and Reflex enabled and boosted, adjusting graphics options to low and medium settings, and tweaking resolutions.

If Bit Reactor can overcome these stability and performance issues and keep me hooked with its story and addictive gameplay, I think Zero Company could be a real hit of 2026. Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

August 2026 has arrived, and we're starting the new month off strong with a whole heap of new movies and TV shows to enjoy on the world's best streaming services.

So, which seven projects have we highlighted for this weekend? For one, fans of cosy comfort TV will be delighted that Ted Lasso is back on Apple TV. Don't worry if you don't care for the sports comedy-drama series, because there's plenty more genre fare to peruse below. So, happy scrolling and streaming! — Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

Ted Lasso season 4 (Apple TV)

It's time to believe in the popular Apple TV Original once more. That's right, Ted Lasso has returned for its fourth season — and, this time, the titular soccer coach is being tasked with managing AFC Richmond's newly-founded women's team. Fans will not only be reunited with established characters in Ted Lasso season 4, then, but also introduced to a whole new line-up of fresh faces.

Want to know how it compares to the hit show's first three seasons? Read my Ted Lasso season 4 review before you make use of that free Apple TV trial you've been holding onto. Ted Lasso season 4 episode 1 is out now, by the way — and, with new episodes dropping weekly for the foreseeable future, there's lots more to look forward to in the weeks ahead. — TP

• Watch Ted Lasso season 4 on Apple TV

The Last House (Netflix)

Louis Leterrier's creepy new sci-fi thriller follows an ordinary family who become trapped in their home after torrential rain mysteriously seals every window, door, and exit point.

Their optimism begins to dwindle when days turn into months and then, frighteningly, years. I do wish the above trailer hadn't spoiled that reveal, but hey ho.

With limited supplies and an unknown threat looming outside, Riley, Jason, and their two children must fight to stay alive. They soon learn that they aren't the only ones affected, but can the other victims be trusted? You'll have to watch The Last House on Netflix to find out. — Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

• Watch The Last House on Netflix

Star Wars: Visions Presents — The Ninth Jedi (Disney+)

What if I said that The Ninth Jedi looks like Star Wars meets Studio Ghibli?

More anime than animation, this Visions spin-off follows Kara and her ragtag Jedi crew as they seek out to find worthy Jedi to fight against an increasingly powerful warlord. She's literally Spirited Away's Chihiro armed with a lightsabre, and I'm all for the flavors of nostalgia we're getting on Disney+.

It's been tipped as a new and exciting "animated triumph," and I'm inclined to agree. If nothing else, The Ninth Jedi proves that Stars Wars is literally unstoppable, and can be easily reinvented until the end of time. — Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

• Watch Star Wars: Visions Presents — The Ninth Jedi on Disney+

Sterling Point (Prime Video)

Prime Video is back on its young adult drama game, baby. This time it's with Sterling Point, coming straight to us from the minds behind Gossip Girl (and that's how you immediately know that it's going to be worthwhile).

17-year-old Annie Jacobson (was raised in New York City with her twin brother and loving adoptive father, until her life takes a turn when she inherits her mysterious grandfather's island in Canada.

We've got some brilliant escapist TV across its eight episodes, feeling a lot more authentic in its delivery than the mundane repetition we've been seeing in other teen dramas of late (naming no names, of course). If you're going to commit to a book-to-Amazon TV adaptation, make it this one. — JV

• Watch Sterling Point on Prime Video

Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Paramount+)

Have I still got FOMO over not being invited to interview Billie Eilish and James Cameron during the bonkers London premiere for Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour earlier this year? Yes, I have, but that doesn't mean I won't vouch for the epic concert experience that's out now on Paramount+.

Initially captured in 3D, we follow Eilish's sold-out 2025 arena tour through a blend of stripped-down live performances from Manchester with backstage access. Whatever we're watching, Eilish's connection with her fans remains the central focus.

If you didn't get tickets or had some towards the back of the stadium, now's your chance to be front row. Personally, I'm just glad she left the Charli XCX Guess remix in the setlist. — JV

• Watch Billie Eilish: Hit Me Soft and Hard: The Tour on Paramount+

Alley Cats (Netflix)

Ricky Gervais returns to Netflix with six-part adult animated series, Alley Cats, which follows a group of strays who take in a lost kitten, helping her to navigate the brutal human world and find her way back home.

Gervais voices Gus, and he's joined by some great British talent like Diane Morgan, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley, and Tony Way. If you're expecting anything like his previous Netflix series After Life, you may be disappointed as Alley Cats has already received several poor reviews. But, if you like crude adult animation and Gervais' controversial brand of humor, then this could be right up your, ahem, alley. — LB

• Watch Alley Cats on Netflix

The Shards (Hulu/Disney+)

Ryan Murphy's back on top form with The Shards, where he collaborates with thriller novelist Bret Easton Ellis to bring the latter's semi-autobiographical story to life on Hulu and Disney+.

The Shards follows a group of privileged teenagers in their final year at an elite prep school, with a fictionalized version of Ellis among them. Their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of Robert Mallory, whose unsettling yet charming presence coincides with the activities of a serial killer known as The Trawler.

The first two episodes are now, but you'll want to read my review of The Shards first to see if it's worth watching. — LB

• Watch The Shards on Hulu (US) and Disney+ (internationally)

• Disney Worldbuilders lands on Disney+ on August 20, 2026
• Leslie Iwerks' new documentary goes inside Disney Imagineering
• Expect behind-the-scenes stories from Galaxy's Edge, Pandora, Pixar, and more

If you're a fan of the many franchises under the Disney umbrella — Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, or Disney Animation — or simply love visiting Disney Parks around the globe, the company has another documentary arriving on Disney+ later this month.

I say "another" because earlier in 2026 we got a fresh look at how Disneyland was created with Disneyland Handcrafted. Now, the same director, Leslie Iwerks, has sat down with many of the creative minds behind Disney's biggest franchises, including Kevin Feige, Dave Filoni, Pete Docter, Jon Favreau, Jared Bush, Jennifer Lee, James Cameron, new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, and former CEO Bob Iger.

It's an impressive lineup of people who helped create many of these iconic worlds and, just as importantly, bring them from the screen or page into the physical environments we can actually experience.

From Pixar Pier and Toy Story Land to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Zootopia, Pandora, and countless other destinations, Disney Worldbuilders promises to show how these lands came to life through the people who imagined and built them. It also looks set to tease upcoming expansions and entirely new experiences.

As you can see in the trailer, Worldbuilders explores both these iconic lands and the creative process behind them through interviews with the people who made them possible. Jon Favreau, who most recently directed The Mandalorian & Grogu, says, "We can push the limits of technology to pursue something mind-blowing," and that feels like an apt description of Disney Parks today.

Just look at the recent update to Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland with its new projection-based Audio-Animatronic, or the overhaul of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which now feels even more like a video game thanks to Unreal Engine-powered updates. That same drive to push technology forward can also be seen in the free-roaming BDX Droids in Galaxy's Edge, the walking, talking Olaf robot, and even experiences aboard Disney Cruise Line ships.

There's a good chance Worldbuilders explores many of those innovations. While it will almost certainly lean more heavily on interviews than Handcrafted, Leslie Iwerks' involvement gives me confidence it'll have the same warmth, care, and strong narrative that made that documentary so enjoyable. That's especially true if you're a fan of Disney Parks, Disney's many franchises, or simply enjoy documentaries about how ambitious creative projects come together.

Beyond the technology, it also appears the series will follow the journey from early concept art to construction and finally opening day, while showing how these lands continue to evolve through new characters, refreshed attractions, and entirely new destinations. I'm especially curious whether the Pixar section will include a look at the upcoming Monstropolis land at Disney's Hollywood Studios, as well as The Magic of Disney Animation, which opens there next month.

Disney Worldbuilders premieres exclusively on Disney+ on August 20, 2026. Unlike Disneyland Handcrafted, it won't also be available to watch for free on YouTube. If you're looking for something to watch before then, I'd also recommend We Call It Imagineering, Behind the Attraction, or Disneyland Handcrafted for a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney's magic is made.

• Star Wars Zero Company will take 30-40 hours to beat the main campaign
• The game won't feature New Game Plus mode, romance systems, or branching story paths
• Post-launch content is also unconfirmed at this time

Bit Reactor has confirmed that Star Wars Zero Company will take up to 40 hours to finish, and it won't have a New Game Plus mode.

The single-player turn-based tactics game is one of my most anticipated titles of the year, and ahead of its launch next month, the studio has conducted a community Q&A to answer a long series of questions.

One of the first questions asked how long the campaign will be, and lead producer Caydence Funk has confirmed that "Depending on your difficulty level and experience with the strategy genre," it's estimated that it can take between 30 and 40 hours for the average player to beat.

It's also confirmed that the story will be linear with no romance systems or branching paths.

"While we are excited about pushing the genre forward with a more cinematic approach, this is still a turn-based tactics game at its heart where adept skill and strategy are needed to overcome tense combat challenges," Bit Reactor said. "That said, there are story moments that can alter based on who you have in your squad, but the overall story is a linear one from beginning to end."

Personally, 40 hours is the ideal length, and a linear story means I can experience everything the story without having to worry about missing out on additional storylines.

"As far as exploration goes, yes, you’ll have the ability to explore a section of some planets prior to engaging in turn-based combat on them," the studio added.

"This is a minor facet of the game that we feel adds a unique, immersive quality to Star Wars Zero Company. These small segments are a chance for you, as Hawks, to conduct the espionage that Zero Company excels at, and are main-story-only segments that can affect the subsequent combat by granting Intel and Advantage Points."

Unfortunately, the game won't launch with New Game Plus mode, so new playthroughs will have to be completely fresh, "but players will unlock certain customization options on subsequent playthroughs" through progress.

Zero Company is set during one of my favorite Star Wars eras, the Clone Wars, so I'm very excited to experience a new story during this time period.

We can expect battles across the galaxy with the Separatist Alliance, a team consisting of a Clone Trooper, a Mandalorian, a Jedi Padawan, an Umbaran sniper, and more, as well as the appearance of Anakin Skywalker.

Customization will also play a big role in the game, and while players can't have an entire team of Clone Troopers, Bit Reactor confirmed that you'll have access to Clone armor cosmetics with the ability to customize your team's armor from the start. Outfits don't impact gameplay, but Clone Trooper helmets will provide a voice modulation effect, which sounds neat!

Even cooler, The Clone Wars TV series voice actor Dee Bradley Baker will provide his iconic voice to the character Trick and additional Clone Troopers, but the full cast has yet to be announced.

As for additional content, good news, there are no plans for microtransactions to be added to the game; however, the "Arc Trooper" Armor Set is only part of the "Grand Army of the Republic" Cosmetic Pack for the Deluxe Edition, but players will still have access to other cosmetic options in the base game.

The game also won't have mod support, and "right now" post-launch content isn't confirmed because Bit Reactor is "focused on making the best game we can at launch."

Star Wars Zero Company launches on August 27 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.

• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake will reportedly be re-revealed later this year
• A content creator reports that development at Saber Interactive has been "ramping up" and going "smoothly"
• Recent reports suggest the game could launch in 2028

Five years after being announced, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake will reportedly be re-revealed later this year.

That's according to reliable Star Wars insider and YouTuber 100% Star Wars (via Bespin Bulletin), who addressed reports that the KOTOR remake could launch in 2028.

In a new video, 100% Star Wars claims that Saber Interactive sources said the game's "best-case scenario" was a mid-to-late 2027 launch to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, but a 2028 release window would align with the original 2003 game's 25th anniversary.

"A reveal later this year has been planned," 100% Star Wars said.

The KOTOR remake was announced in 2021 and was originally being developed by Aspyr Media. However, development was paused for some time before the project was eventually handed over to Saber Interactive in August 2022.

When asked about the game's progress earlier this year, Saber's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, said, "Yes, it is still in development. That's all I can say."

Aside from the teaser trailer revealed five years ago, we haven't heard or seen anything else about the game since, but according to 100% Star Wars, development has been smooth sailing since Saber took up the reins.

"I know about the extremely positive development cycle since the game has been at Saber since 2023," the YouTuber said. "Development on the game has not only been ramping up, but it’s been going extremely smoothly over the past 3 years since Saber started from scratch.

"They’ve been hiring some extremely high-end talent from across the industry and Saber is very much a unified front when it comes to the development of this game with resources and talent being pulled from all over the company."

While we wait for the KOTOR remake, Star Wars fans can look forward to Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a role-playing game (RPG) from Arcnaut Studios being led by KOTOR and Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson.

A new turn-based single-player game, Star Wars: Zero Company, from Bit Reactor will also launch this year on August 27, as well as Fuse Games' Star Wars: Galactic Racer, which arrives on October 6.

• The Mandalorian and Grogu's digital release date has been announced
• It'll be available to rent or buy in late July
• The new Star Wars movie won't come to Disney+ anytime soon

The Mandalorian and Grogu is heading to a TV screen near you very soon — but not via Disney+.

Yesterday (July 15), Lucasfilm and parent company Disney announced the latest Star Wars movie will be available to watch at home from Tuesday, July 21 onwards. If you didn't catch it in theaters or have been waiting to re-watch it from the comfort of your couch, then you'll be able to do so via numerous premium video on demand (PVOD) platforms in less than a week.

As for the services it'll land on, the usual suspects, such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango, should be your first ports of call. Right now, there's no indication that The Mandalorian and Grogu will be available to rent and/or buy, but I'd be shocked if viewers were only given the option to temporarily or permanently add one of 2026's many new movies to their digital film collection.

Want to know if the first Star Wars flick in over six years is worth seeing? Read my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu for more details.

Why han't The Mandalorian and Grogu arrived on Disney+ yet?

If you're wondering why The Mandalorian and Grogu isn't coming to Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services, yet, you're not alone. After all, it's been over two months since the Pedro Pascal-fronted sci-fi adventure not only landed in theaters, but subsequently failed to meet expectations from critical and commercial standpoints.

Wouldn't it make sense to just drop the movie on Disney's primary streamer, then? Simply put: no.

For one, releasing it on digital platforms first is a sure-fire way for Lucasfilm and Disney to continue making money from The Mandalorian's big-screen sequel.

Sure, adding it to Disney+'s movie library might persuade some to sign up for the streamer to watch it. However, Disney is far more likely to bring in extra cash through rentals or permanent purchases than new Disney+ subscriptions, especially if the cost of renting or buying The Mandalorian and Grogu is greater than the most expensive tier on Disney+ in your world region. For instance, US fans have to pay $18.99 every 30 days for an ad-free experience, so if Disney sets The Mandalorian and Grogu's digital price at $20, it's obviously going to earn more from the latter.

Regardless, the Jon Favreau-directed film will eventually come to Disney+, so you'll just have to be patient if you're waiting for it to its official streaming debut. While you wait, see if you agree with my Disney+ release date prediction for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

• Marvel has supposedly cast a major star as Magneto in its new X-Men film
• The actor in question was linked with another major role in the MCU
• They were said to be close to playing The Fantastic Four's Reed Richards

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has reportedly found its Magneto.

According to multiple industry insiders, none other than former Star Wars actor Adam Driver has supposedly signed on to play the iconic metal-manipulating mutant in the comic giant's new X-Men movie.

At the time of publication, the Hollywood trades are yet to corroborate this via their own sources. Furthermore, with this rumor being circulated online by leakers with spotty track records, including MyTimeToShineHello and KnightEdgeMedia, Driver's casting is mere speculation at this stage.

That said, another insider, Apocalyptic Horseman, who's more trustworthy than the aforementioned pair, has backed up their claims. So, until we get an official line from Marvel and/or some form of verification from Deadline, Variety, or The Hollywood Reporter, it's just as likely that Driver won't appear in the MCU's first X-Men film as it is that he will.

What are the chances of Driver's involvement being confirmed sooner rather than later? Well, San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 is right around the corner, and Marvel is set to take the stage for its traditional Hall H panel on Saturday, July 25. Given that Marvel has had a surprise or two up its sleeve for past editions of SDCC presentations, I wouldn't rule out the prospect of some form of official X-Men movie casting news at this year's event.

Driving the Marvel rumor mill

If Driver becomes the third A-lister to portray Magneto in a live-action film — the others being Michael Fassbender and legendary actor Ian McKellen — it'll put an end to speculation about his long-rumored involvement in the MCU.

In October 2022, Driver was supposedly in talks to play Doctor Doom in Marvel's Fantastic Four film. Seven months later, Driver was apparently among the stars up for consideration for playing The Fantastic Four's Reed Richards instead. Said whisper was just one of many Fantastic Four casting rumors that sent MCU fans into a tailspin but which didn't come to pass.

Will this Magneto-specific rumor prove to be a case of third time's a charm for Driver? Some fans aren't convinced — indeed, threads on ResetEra and various Reddit pages are full of comments saying Driver would be a better fit for famous X-Men villain Mister Sinister, or that he should steer clear of a franchise whose best days are arguably behind it.

With or without Driver, Marvel's untitled X-Men movie is slowly taking shape. Lee Isaac Chung and Jake Schreier (Beef, Thunderbolts*) are already on board as its respective writer and director, and Marvel President Kevin Feige recently revealed (per Collider) that the mutant-led feature could be the first MCU film post-Avengers: Secret Wars.

Meanwhile, with speculation swirling online that Sadie Sink is playing iconic X-Men member Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as well as Obsession star Inde Navarrette saying she recently met with Schreier, and Apocalyptic Horseman claiming that Marvel is searching for the MCU's Cyclops, Storm, and Rogue, this new X-Men movie's cast might soon be in place. All eyes will be firmly fixed on Marvel's SDCC 2026 presentation, then, for confirmation of any or all of the above.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is utter joy in racing game form, and its depth, run-based structure, and deep vehicle customization options are going to keep me occupied for hours on end.

It was the game that made me grin from ear to ear the quickest out of all that I saw at Summer Game Fest 2026, and I am so excited for it. As soon as I took control of a racer and was on the starting grid, I was immediately smiling, and soon after, laughing to (or at?) myself — it really was that quick.

Blending some really excellent Burnout-style racing game features, with a level of depth and customisation that can get frankly mind-boggling, with the excellence that is Star Wars lore and settings, it has all the ingredients to be a hit this year.

Feel the burn

At the core of Galactic Racer is its Burnout-inspired racing experience, and let me tell you, this is fantastic.

The racers, be they landspeeders, speeder bikes, or podracers, on offer all have their own style, way of handling, and moves to master, and the team at developer Fuse Games has even added a brand-new vehicle to the roster — a whole new addition to the Star Wars universe — the Skim speeder.

Races feel intense and can get very enjoyable and chaotic very quickly. Collisions are not only a danger to you but can be of great benefit, allowing you to muscle your way through for track position or remove them from the equation entirely, so there’s always a balance to be had between taking evasive action or just going on the charge to create havoc.

The courses I tried were absurdly fun too, full of different routes to take, and plenty of opportunity for overtakes or other ways to try and gain an advantage over your competitors, crashing into your foes, and deploying skills. From inputting a series of button presses to get a bonus off the starting grid, which is a satisfying mini-game, to perhaps what is one of the best in-race features of slow-mo crashes of one of your foes — or yourself, which is amusing every time — each race is filled with moments of fun and a high overall level of sheer excitement.

It’s also incredibly beautifully realized, both on the track and off it: characters and cars look excellent, and the environments and race tracks, even though they’re passing at a high speed, are wonderfully detailed and evoke the style of Star Wars’ planets brilliantly.

The options are endless

Where Star Wars: Galactic Racer offers depth, however, is in, well, everywhere else: from in-race synergies between your vehicle and the environment, to the narrative, and to the amount of customisation and part combinations you can engage with, the game looks to be as deep as a Sarlacc is long.

The story here is about your racer’s rise through the ranks and is implemented in a runs-based, branching way where you pick the route of your races that are the map of your and the story’s progress. You can pick a route that’s higher risk-reward, or pick something safer to progress.

When it comes to how you can build, craft, augment, and customize your racer, we get into some serious depth. I was told by the devs at SGF that they think there are a number of vehicle part combinations that are in the order of ‘trillions’ in the game simply due to how many different things you can combine with other different things, from durability to boosts, from handling to abilities.

This gets further augmented by the fact that you can build specific racers for specific worlds, tracks, and conditions. Need a racer that won’t get slowed down by water? Check. Want to sacrifice durability to perhaps invest in a build which runs extremely hot for speed, but then rely on a racetrack’s water courses to cool it down? Absolutely.

The synergies between a racer’s parts and between a racer and the environments make the build possibilities seemingly endless.

As a result, Star Wars: Galactic Racer has shot up my list of anticipated games for the rest of the year, and I can’t wait for lights out when the game releases on October 6 this year, on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC to dive further into everything it offers.

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a synergy system that impacts the players' vehicles
• Fuse Games says planets will have status effects, like driving in lava or burning in Jakku's sun
• Players can also counteract these effects, like driving through water, if their vehicles overheat

Fuse Games has revealed that Star Wars: Galactic Racer features a synergy system with status effects that impact the players' vehicles.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest 2026, where studio co-founder and CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins discussed the game's "runs-based" campaign structure and "consequential decision-making," the pair also detailed the game's reactive gameplay system.

In the game, players will visit a range of planets to take part in races, each with their own environmental differences. There are the hot, dry sand planets like Tatooine and Jakku, the lush jungle planet Lantaana, the snow planet, Ando Prime, and more.

This means players will need to adapt to the occasion, swapping out vehicle parts for ones better suited for the specific track. There's also an upgrade tree, which Crimmins said will let players improve their cornering, speed, or resilience, and upgrading vehicles over time will be "a very satisfying experience."

However, the game's synergy system will offer a bigger challenge. Planets will also have status effects, meaning hot lava will overheat your vehicle, but it can also be counteracted by physically driving through water.

"We wanted synergies, so that is status effects that each planet has a different status effect that can be inflicted on you," Crimmins said. "For instance, Ando Prime, you can get frozen, Lantaana, you can overheat in the lava, but you can also get cooled in the water. And then on different versions of Jakku, you can get burnt as well by the sun."

The developers said they couldn't speak on Crait just yet, which is a planet covered in a layer of white salt over a red crystalline mineral, suggesting that, just like in the movie The Last Jedi, speeders and other vehicles will impact the ground players navigate.

Crimmins continued, explaining how negative status effects can be subverted, for instance, to increase the speed of the new system called a Ramjet, which offers a massive boost in speed.

Webster added that using the Ramjet can "come at a real cost and heats up," but if players drive over the rivers of water in Lantaana, it heats up more slowly.

"You end up thinking of your build in a much more tactical way, where you're like, how can this thing prop this thing and create this thing to make an entirely new race," Crimmins said.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

• Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a combination of vehicle parts "in the trillions"
• Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says the game has "unbelievable depth"
• He adds, "There may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made"

Fuse Games has revealed that Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a combination of moving parts that is "in the trillions."

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming at Summer Game Fest (SGF), Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster and Creative Director Kieran Crimmins shared how the studio designed a Star Wars racing game with a narrative that balanced what fans are already familiar with while also adding to the universe in a meaningful way.

Webster touched on the accessible planets where the races will take place, such as iconic planets like Tatooine, and others like Lantaana and Jakku, as well as the game's "runs-based" campaign structure and vehicle customization with over 300 parts.

That's a lot of options which will certainly offer a lot of player freedom, but according to Crimmins, the game at large goes beyond that. The creative director said that he spoke to one of the game's designers at SGF and asked how many combinations of moving parts there are in the game, and he was told, "It's in the trillions."

"I can't really calculate it at that point, because the amount of mechanical depth we've got in both the parts, the racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets, is an unbelievable depth."

"We've never had that much depth in a game we've made," he added. "I would argue there may not be an arcade racer with that much depth in it ever made. This might not be the biggest one possible, and that's something we really wanted to give back to the genre."

Coming back to how the team balanced the new and old of Star Wars, Crimmins explained that it wants people who are familiar with the franchise to have those "touch points," but it also looked at it from "more of a fantasy fulfillment point of view."

"It's like when we watch the movies, we watch the TV shows, or we play the games," he said. "What are the vehicle fantasies that are represented in this universe, which there are a lot of, and then, how do we get the right word, the right worlds, the right parts, the right vehicles? So that we can give as many of those different fantasies as possible."

One of those new vehicles is the skim speeder, which offers fast mobility and is something the Fuse Games knew needed to do a "knife-edge" turn in races.

"We made a vehicle that was able to do that and give, what I feel is a very authentic Star Wars experience, but it is a completely new vehicle, so something new to the Star Wars canon."

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

• Fuse Games CEO Matt Webster confirms Star Wars: Galactic Racer has a runs-based structure in the campaign
• Webster says "consequential decision-making" is built within the campaign
• Creative Director Kieran Crimmins says that when the team prototyped the system, "it felt right" for Galactic Racer

Star Wars: Galactic Racer will feature a runs-based structure within the campaign, which Fuse Games has said will involve "consequential decision-making."

That's according to Fuse Games co-founder and CEO Matt Webster, who told TechRadar Gaming during an interview at Summer Game Fest 2026 (SGF) that while he and the team love arcade racing games, "you can't make one really in the same way as you did all those years ago," because game genres have adapted and evolved.

Webster said the team wanted to bring something fresh to Galactic Racer, and the runs-based structures, which "are built for replayability and racing thrives on replayability," and in other games, the "meta" is car collection. So instead, the team shook things up by bringing back "consequential decision making and consequence back into the experience."

Creative Director Kieran Crimmins added that "consequence" was the "key" for Galactic Racer, saying, "We want every decision to matter, every upgrade to matter, every vehicle to matter, every race to matter, and like the runs-based structure allows us to do that, like we've never done in an arcade racing before."

"Not only have you got to keep on top of the curve with your build and your skill and your track knowledge, but also you get to reset every time," Crimmins continued.

In other arcade racers, the developer explained, cars can be upgraded to max level, but then players will realize they haven't experienced 99% of the other systems. And while they can always be revisited, the runs-based structure "allows you to do that with consequence."

"It gives you a reason to try all those different builds, a reason to experiment, and also a reward if you get your synergies right, you get your build right, and you get your knowledge right," Crimmins said.

"Then that's what actually wins the game, so it was incredibly compelling to us to have a structure that not only changed the way that you play, but changed the way that you play that was advantageous for the feelings that you get in a racing game, and like anything, the way we made it is we prototyped it and it felt right.

"This is an innovation we think we can bring to the genre."

During the interview, Crimmins also revealed that the game will feature a combination of moving parts that are "in the trillions," across racer styles, the abilities, the upgrades, and then the different environmental effects that are on the planets.

"It's an unbelievable depth," the creative director said.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer arrives on October 6 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

Yes, Star Wars has returned to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu, and on the same day it hit theaters, it landed in two Disney Parks — Disneyland in Anaheim, CA and Disney World in Orlando, FL.

Disney Imagineering and Disney Experiences used the new film — and the fact it was made with the help of Unreal Engine — to rethink and retheme Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. It's now really, really fun, even after more than a dozen rides, and the addition of The Mandalorian and the irresistibly adorable Grogu gives the attraction a shot of energy it genuinely needed.

It's not a one-to-one adaptation of the film, and it didn't require any physical updates to the Falcon itself or the attraction queues. You'll still board the Millennium Falcon and join The Mandalorian and Grogu for a mission — the three roles of pilot, gunner, and engineer remain — but the engineer role has been completely overhauled and is no longer the least exciting seat in the cockpit.

That's because the engineer now picks the planet; Bespin, Endor, or Coruscant — three distinct environments, and guests actually choose where they're going. That variability was the central goal of the entire rethink, according to Morgan McDowell, a senior software project manager for Walt Disney Imagineering.

"We now have three different planets that our guests can fly to and fly through, and all the different variability within the planets that they go to," McDowell said. "It's more like a traditional video game — if I want to go right, I can go right. If I want to go left, I go left."

All three roles still have a variety of buttons and controls to interact with. Pilots get a noticeably smoother experience and the chance to make the jump to lightspeed. Gunners have a critical role in collecting the bounty, with blaster fire that now visibly tracks targets.

But the engineer is the one driving the planet selection and gets near-constant access to Grogu throughout the ride — there's a dedicated button that triggers cutscenes with the character, and taking care of Grogu is woven into the mission from start to finish.

The view outside the cockpit has been upgraded too. It runs at 4K, 60 frames per second — an improvement over the original — and across all three environments it's smooth and vibrant, with none of the jitter or visual inconsistency that can break immersion in a motion simulator. A big part of making that possible is the move to Unreal Engine 5, new show game computers, and all-new Nvidia GPUs powering the attraction.

What makes the technical setup particularly interesting is that Disney Imagineering doesn't run Unreal the way you would at home. Unreal Engine is typically designed to run on a single GPU — but this attraction demands far more than that.

So Imagineering built their own custom version of Unreal Engine capable of running across multiple GPUs simultaneously, which is what allows the attraction to render everything in real time: the main screen, the individual position screens, the lighting package, the audio, and up to six inputs at once during a four-to-five minute ride. That's a tall order.

"We're running all-new Nvidia GPUs powering the graphics, as well as powering the new video game running on Unreal Engine 5," McDowell explained. She wouldn't share the specific GPU model or configuration, but confirmed it's a highly custom setup — and that Disney's version of Unreal, currently tracking alongside the publicly released 5.7 and 5.8 builds, is meaningfully different from what's available off the shelf.

"I think I have some of the smartest people on my team who own and innovate and update our build of the Unreal Engine, and that unlocks so many different things that we're able to do that Unreal offers, but then we can do it in a multi-GPU setting," she said.

The Lucasfilm partnership was central to making the day-and-date launch work. McDowell described teams from both sides working through the Florida install together around the clock, riding the attraction, flagging issues, and iterating on builds in real time.

"We had a lot of our Lucasfilm partners, or their QA lead, out here working with us day and night — getting the new builds on the new hardware in the attraction, and then actually running the game with them, and them doing tweaks, and us doing tweaks all together," she said.

The result is an attraction that feels genuinely fresh. The random events spread across three planets, the role-specific interactions, and the Grogu moments give it a choose-your-own-adventure quality that holds up across multiple rides in a way the original never quite managed. There are also secret modes to unlock, including a Grogu-specific one, and easter eggs that vary depending on which planet you visit and which path you take through it. There's even a trench run moment that, for what it's worth, had me thinking back to flying a Lego X-Wing on the Sphere in Las Vegas — high praise for a theme park ride.

While Rise of the Resistance had arguably eclipsed Smugglers Run as the centerpiece Star Wars experience at both parks, The Mandalorian and Grogu update doesn't just close that gap — it reframes what the attraction is. Less a set-piece ride, more a chance to live your own Star Wars story differently every time you board.

More broadly, rolling out a real-time video game experience across two parks on the same day a film releases speaks to what Unreal Engine is making possible for Disney Imagineering — and how quickly that capability is moving. Smugglers Run isn't even the only attraction running it — Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom is already powered by Unreal — and it's clear Imagineering is thinking about where it goes next.

"We are always looking at the new features that are coming, and we do work with Epic on upcoming things," McDowell said, "and we start to think of how we can use that technology to bring the best guest experience in our parks."

Star Wars: Starfighter will fly its way onto a big screen near you in less than a year's time. Indeed, with the Ryan Gosling-starring sci-fi adventure movie set to take flight in theaters on May 28, 2027, the countdown is well and truly on to Lucasfilm's next feature flick.

So, what do we know about the next Star Wars film ahead of its mid-2027 release? In this guide, you'll find all of the most important and newest details on one of next year's most anticipated new movies, including news of its cast and plot. Engage that hyperdrive, then, and let's get the lowdown on Starfighter.

Star Wars: Starfighter release date

As I mentioned above, Star Wars: Starfighter is charting a course to theaters on May 28, 2027.

That official release date was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025 and, as long as its crew doesn't encounter any major post-production issues, it won't be delayed.

Star Wars: Starfighter trailer — is there one?

No. Well, not one that's been released publicly. Various rounds of footage have been shown at this year's CineEurope, San Diego Comic-Con, and D23 Expo, but said teasers have all been shown exclusively to attendees.

Once an official trailer is released, I'll update this section.

Star Wars: Starfighter confirmed cast

Here's Star Wars: Starfighter's confirmed cast so far:

• Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon
• Flynn Gray as TBC
• Matt Smith as TBC
• Mia Goth as TBC
• Aaron Pierre as TBC
• Simon Bird as TBC
• Jamael Westman as TBC
• Daniel Ings as TBC
• Amy Adams as TBC

As of April 2025, Gosling (Project Hail Mary, Barbie) was the only actor confirmed to appear. At D23 Expo 2026, Gosling and director Shawn Levy revealed that the latter's character was called Kade Auberon, too.

Four months after Gosling was announced in mid-2025, a separate article posted on StarWars.com revealed relative acting newcomer Flynn Gray (Wednesday) will co-star alongside Starfighter's lead actor.

That pair side, Smith (House of the Dragon, Doctor Who), Goth (Pearl, The Odyssey), Pierre (Rebel Ridge, Lanterns), and Adams (Invasion, American Hustle) are also going to be part of proceedings. Like Gray, their character identities are currently unknown.

Rounding out the cast are Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Gentlemen), Bird (The Inbetweeners, Friday Night Dinner), and Westman (Hedda, The Essex Serpent). Again, there's no official information on their character's names or roles in this film.

Star Wars: Starfighter plot details and rumors

Possible spoilers follow for Star Wars: Starfighter.

Public information on Star Wars: Starfighter's story is practically non-existent at this stage. However, thanks to the above X/Twitter post, we know it'll be set five years after Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, so it'll take place in a post-First Order galaxy.

Does that mean it'll be Star Wars Episode X in all but name? No, director Shawn Levy told Collider. "It's an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure," he said. "It's new characters [and] it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans] — and just movie audiences — something fresh, something new. And, with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way."

Star Wars wasn't the only, well, star guiding Levy's vision for Starfighter, either. In a chat with Vanity Fair, he reveals he was also told by outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy to "make it feel like your movies feel". That said, you can expect it to have the humor, drama, and action of many of his family-oriented works, such as The Adam Project for Netflix, rather than more mature projects like Stranger Things and Deadpool and Wolverine.

As the supposedly leaked story brief in the X/Twitter post above suggests, Starfighter won't overlook the iconic sci-fi franchise's most important elements, including the Force.

Unsurprisingly, lightsabers are also part of this movie's narrative framework, with writer Jonathan Tropper telling ScreenRant that the legendary blades used by the Jedi and Sith will have a part to play. Furthermore, in a profile piece for The New York Times, Levy also let slip that none other than Tom Cruise had choreographed a lightsaber duel for Star Wars: Starfighter. It stands to reason, then, that we'll see some Force wielders in this flick.

Given Starfighter takes place after The Rise of Skywalker, could one of those aforementioned Force users include Daisy Ridley's Rey? And will Gray's unnamed character, who teams up with Gosling's protagonist, also be Force-sensitive? I guess we'll have to see.

How will Star Wars: Starfighter impact Lucasfilm's wider galaxy?

We don't know. Right now, Star Wars: Starfighter is billed as a standalone adventure, so it might not even set up one or more of the many new Star Wars movies and TV shows that are in early or active development.

That said, if — and it's a big if — Ridley's Rey does appear, Starfighter might set up some loose plot threads for the Rey-starring film that's currently known as New Jedi Order. There's been very little movement on that project since it was first announced, though — and, with Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan recently replacing Kennedy as Lucasfilm's new co-CEOs, it's unclear how many of the in-development Star Wars productions will actually get made.

Starfighter notwithstanding, the only other Star Wars project that'll be released in the next 12 months is Star Wars: Ahsoka season 2, which is confirmed to be coming to Disney+ in january 2027. For more on that show's next chapter, read my guide on everything we know so far about Ahsoka season 2.

• Lego just revealed a new Sandcrawler set themed from The Mandalorian Season 1
• The 1,683-piece set features a Sandcrawler with interactive elements
• It includes Grogu, Mando, Jawas, and Kuiil Minifigures

Alongside the Millennium Falcon, the TIE Fighter, or the AT-AT walker, the Sandcrawler is one of the most iconic vehicles from the wide universe of Star Wars. And while we’ve seen many Lego versions over the years, it’s been a while since the brick-building giant revisited the vehicle.

However, with The Mandalorian and Grogu now on the big screen and a slew of new products themed to the film already available, Lego and Star Wars have teamed up for another set. And TechRadar can now exclusively reveal the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set.

Even better, this Sandcrawler is themed and detailed to match the same offworld vehicle seen in Season 1 of The Mandalorian, giving longtime fans of the Disney+ series a nostalgic throwback to some of Grogu and Mando’s earliest adventures.

The set is available for preorder now directly from Lego for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99, and will ship in the coming weeks. For that price, you get 1,683 pieces to build the Sandcrawler, several accessories, a posable Mudhorn with its egg, and a handful of Minifigures.

Included with the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set are Grogu with a hoverpram, The Mandalorian, Kuiil, an Offworld Jawa Elder, and two Offworld Jawa Minifigures.

The Sandcrawler itself is well detailed, and features a few interactive elements, including a few Technic-style components. By turning the rear dials, you can open or close the front hatch, and you'll build treads to let you move the vehicle.

Two stud shooters are built in, and you can access the cockpit to place a Minifigure inside. You'll also build cargo boxes filled with droid parts and even blue cookies for Grogu to snack on. Doors and windows along the Sandcrawler’s exterior sides let you pose Jawas, Mando, or even Grogu mid-scene.

As the set’s name suggests, you’ll also build a Mudhorn from the 1,683 pieces, letting fans recreate one of the memorable early moments from Season 1 of The Mandalorian.

With all of these elements coming together, fans of the Disney+ series can recreate iconic scenes featuring Mando, Grogu, Kuiil, and the Jawas. It’s certainly a nice addition, and for longtime Star Wars fans, it’s great to see Lego revisiting one of the franchise’s most recognizable vehicles with a throwback to the first season of The Mandalorian, which originally premiered in 2019.

You can check out a full gallery of images, including the box art, for the Lego Star Wars Offworld Sandcrawler and Mudhorn set. And if you’re sold, it’s available for preorder now for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$329.99 from Lego’s online store.

Memorial Day is here, and if you've been looking for a deal on a Lego set, Amazon’s latest sale is worth a look — and it’s already in full swing. From Creator kits that let you build three different iconic models to Star Wars ships, Lego Art, and Botanical Collection sets, there’s pretty much something on sale for every kind of builder and fan.

• Shop Amazon's full Memorial Day sale

As is often the case with Amazon, the real standout here is the variety. The retailer’s Memorial Day Lego sale includes newer releases alongside longtime favorites, including the Lego Mona Lisa set, The Starry Night, several Lego Star Wars kits like a Droid Battle Pack, a few adorable builds, and plenty of Lego Botanicals sets if you’re looking to add some brick-built flowers to your space without worrying about watering them.

To help narrow it all down, I’m highlighting 15 of the best Lego deals live right now at Amazon — including massive Lego Star Wars builds, detailed display pieces, fun smaller kits, and some of the best Botanicals discounts in the sale.

The best Memorial Day Lego deals at Amazon

Star Wars is officially back on the big screen as of May 22, 2026, as The Mandalorian and Grogu has officially hit theaters. Certainly, there’s a lot of excitement in the air, from reviews of the film dropping — you can read ours here — to a ride opening the same day at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney World, as well as a ton of new merchandise hitting the market.

While we’ve already seen figures, TechRadar can now exclusively reveal eight new POP!s from Funko, along with a new line of “Mystery Minis,” all themed around The Mandalorian and Grogu. All of these will be available from Funko early next week, alongside a few exclusives arriving at other retailers, including Amazon.

Easily one of the best offerings from the bunch, though, are the Mystery Minis figures. These give you the chance to score stylized versions of the main characters — Grogu or the Mandalorian — as well as several other members of the film’s cast. Those include a Stormtrooper, Rotta the Hutt, Zeb Orrelios, and even Embo, among others.

The details here, in classic Funko! form, looks excellent based on the renders, and since these come in mystery boxes, you won’t know which one you’ve gotten until you unbox it yourself. These Mystery Minis are also very affordable at $6.99 each.

You can see a full gallery of the eight new POP!s below, but let’s run through them: Clang, Grogu with Food, Embo & Keibu, Rotta the Hutt, Amani, and The Mandalorian arrive as the standard-sized POP! figures. There’s also a POP! Keychain of Grogu with a snack and a POP! Moment featuring Grogu with a mouse droid.

The latter is especially compelling, offering a look at an iconic Grogu moment as he seemingly lifts the polar mouse droid with the Force. It’s a larger-sized figure that would look excellent on a desk or table, and it’s priced at $34.99 while standing 5 inches tall.

The standard POP!s land at $14.99 and offer a chance to get your favorite character or two presented in a fresh style. The Mandalorian POP! comes complete with a sword and axe, looking battle-ready — or at least prepared to defend himself. Rotta the Hutt is similarly armed with two axes, while Grogu is happily snacking on something that looks delicious.

The POP! Keychain is similarly cute, letting you clip Grogu and his little snack onto your keys, a bag, or really anywhere else. It’s also the most affordable of the bunch at $4.99. As of now, Funko Direct will offer these beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2026, though there’s a good chance some other retailers will have them sooner.

Let us know which one is your favorite in the comments below.

Star Wars is back on the big screen. Indeed, with The Mandalorian and Grogu finally ending the iconic sci-fi franchise's theatrical hiatus, I suspect many of you will be heading to your local cinema to see what it's all about.

However, if you've been put off by its middling critical reception — read my review of The Mandalorian and Grogu to see what I thought — you might decide to save your money and wait for it to come out on Disney+. So, when could one of 2026's new movies make its streaming debut?

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have a Disney+ release date yet?

No. The movie sequel to The Mandalorian TV series only arrived in theaters on May 22, so it'll be a while before it's released on Disney+.

When might that be? I have no insider information, but my best guess is it'll drop on one of the best streaming services in early September, with September 2 being the most likely scenario.

Why then? Typically, Disney releases its first-party films on its primary streamer around three months after they launch in theaters. Some have come to the service earlier or later than anticipated, but that's usually the result of them underperforming at the global box office, or are still making money via ticket sales, so they're left in theaters for longer.

For The Mandalorian and Grogu, let's assume that it'll land on Disney+ three months after its theatrical release. That would mean it should be available to watch at home on August 22, right?

Not exactly. You see, new Disney+ movies tend to come out on a Wednesday. This year, August 22 falls on a Saturday, so there's absolutely no chance that the first of many new Star Wars movies and TV shows will launch on that date.

Now, it's possible that The Mandalorian and Grogu could drop on the Wednesday either side of August 22 — those dates being August 19 and 26. However, I believe Disney will withhold its streaming launch until the previously mentioned September 2 date. The reason? Labor Day, one of many holidays observed in the US, is set to take place on Monday, September 7 this year.

With many Americans due to enjoy a three-day weekend around that date, releasing The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Wednesday before Labor Day weekend makes perfect sense. Those who live stateside will likely have a couple of hours to spare at some point over the extended weekend, so loading up Disney+ to check out the latest Star Wars movie is something that millions of them are sure to do.

And, hey, if you don't live in the US, I'm sure you'll have some downtime over the first weekend of September. If you do and you're a Star Wars fan, you're just as likely to sign into Disney+ to see what all of the fuss is about with The Mandalorian and Grogu, too.

How long is The Mandalorian and Grogu?

As you'll have noted by now — if you haven't skipped ahead to this section, anyway — I've said that you'll need to set aside a couple of hours to watch The Mandalorian and Grogu.

That's due to the fact that its runtime is two hours and 12 minutes, including its end credits crawl. That makes its the fourth shortest Star Wars movie of all-time, with only the original film trilogy having smaller runtimes.

Does The Mandalorian and Grogu have an end credits scene?

No. Once Din Djarin and Baby Yoda's latest galactic adventure has come to a close, there isn't a mid- and/or post-credits scene to stick around for.

By all means sit through the end credits sequence to appreciate the sheer number of people who worked on The Mandalorian and Grogu. But, if you stay seated with the hope that you'll get a hint at what's next for that legendary galaxy far, far away, you'll be sorely disappointed.

Full spoilers follow for The Mandalorian. Light spoilers also follow for The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Seven years is a long time for a franchise like Star Wars to spend away from the big screen. Sure, the wait for new movie-based entries in Lucasfilm's iconic galaxy far, far away has been significantly larger in the past. In an age where entertainment titans are mining everything they can from their money-spinning signature brands, though, it's surreal to think that a whole generation of fans haven't seen a Star Wars movie at their local theater.

Well, now they can. The Mandalorian and Grogu, a film sequel to The Mandalorian, aka the hugely popular Disney+ TV series that stars the aforementioned pair, aims to replicate the success of its parent show and recapture the magic of seeing the legendary sci-fi franchise on the silver screen for the first time. Unfortunately, it achieves neither of its objectives.

Wherever I go, he goes

Picking up sometime after The Mandalorian's season 3 finale, The Mandalorian and Grogu reunites us with the titular duo as they continue to carry out their contractual work for The New Republic. That being, hunting down Imperial warlords still devoted to the Galactic Empire to stop them from reviving the autocratic regime.

To that end, the Mandalorian known as Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and his Force-wielding pal are given a specific mission by Colonel Ward (Sigourney Weaver): rescue Rotta the Hutt (voiced by Jeremy Allen White) for his crime lord relatives known as the Twins. In exchange, the latter will provide information on the whereabouts of Lord Janu (Jonny Coyne), The New Republic's next target.

Sounds simple, right? I think you already know the answer to that. Long story short: Mando and Grogu get more than they bargained for on a quest that proves to be their most dangerous yet.

Truth be told, they should be used to life-threatening situations as they've embarked on numerous perilous missions before in The Mandalorian.

And this is my first major gripe with The Mandalorian and Grogu, because it has the air of being two hour-long episodes of its parent show that have been smashed together.

It's difficult to explain without getting into major spoiler territory but, despite The Mandalorian and Grogu possessing a narrative throughline, there's a clear disconnect between its two parts that occurs exactly at its midpoint.

Indeed, with Mando and Grogu seemingly completing their Rotta-based search and rescue mission quicker than expected, I fully expected the end credits of this 'episode' to roll before its follow-up chapter began. You can imagine my surprise, then, when I not only realized this wouldn't happen, but also that there was an hour's worth of story left to tell when 95% of the plot's loose ends had seemingly been tied up.

Director Jon Favreau might claim that, rather than repurpose The Mandalorian season 4's scripts for this movie, he had to "start from scratch with The Mandalorian and Grogu's screenplay.

Nevertheless, given the notable split midway through this film's story, I'm of the opinion that some of that unmade season's plot threads have been reused and, whether by design or not, give it the structure of a multi-episode arc that's been stitched together. Think of how The Clone Wars animated series' first few episodes were similarly sewn together to unnecessarily turn it into a big-screen offering, and you'll get the idea.

The light and the dark

The Mandalorian and Grogu does win points for its action sequences, though. They're not wholly original in their makeup but, whether it's large- or small-scale battles, chase sequences, or vehicular- or duel-based combat, each one is as entertaining and well-executed as they need to be.

Speaking of being entertaining, Grogu is — if it even needs saying — the highlight of the show.

Multiple scenes involving Mando's apprentice are played for laughs (and rightly so, because he's an adorable little tyke), but he also gets enough character development that indicates he's not only coming into his own as a protagonist, but also being firmly positioned as Star Wars' next big, well, star. Suffice it to say, newcomers will fall head over heels for the individual affectionately known as Baby Yoda, while established fans will re-fall in love with him all over again.

Of equal appeal is The Mandalorian and Grogu following in the footsteps of its parent show and introducing us to fascinating new corners of the galaxy.

With growing fan criticism that Star Wars was reluctant to move away from exploring desert planets, The Mandalorian has given us new worlds — and the odd old fan favorite, such as Mandalore — to explore since its initial release on Disney+, aka one of the best streaming services.

It's a baton that The Mandalorian and Grogu is only too happy to pick up, too. Indeed, in flying us to new locales like Nal Hutta and Shakari, one of the many forthcoming new Star Wars movies and shows builds on its TV forebear's desire to visit unexplored regions of the galaxy, especially in the lawless Outer Rim. I'll take more of the same with other projects you've got in the pipeline, please, Lucasfilm.

While I'm making requests, it's also time for Star Wars to move past its overreliance on nostalgia bait, of which The Mandalorian and Grogu is as guilty of as its franchise contemporaries are.

Spoilers notwithstanding, it's a film dripping in Easter eggs and callbacks to other Star Wars projects, especially in its back half. That won't be an issue for diehards looking to mimic Captain America's "I understood that reference" line from The Avengers or Leonardo DiCaprio's finger pointing meme from One Upon a Time in Hollywood. Still, to me at least, the sheer number of nods to The Mandalorian and wider Star Wars universe felt more and more self-indulgent with each one I picked up on.

My verdict

The Mandalorian and Grogu is fine. It's an inoffensive and narratively safe addition to Lucasfilm's back catalog that'll still perform admirably at the global box office by virtue of it being a Star Wars movie, and the inclusion of Baby Yoda that's sure to lure in first-time viewers and diehard fans of the adorable green imp alike.

For those who grew up on the original films and/or want Lucasfilm and Disney to take more big creative swings in the vein of Andor, though, The Mandalorian and Grogu will feel like a missed opportunity. After all, this is the franchise's first big-screen outing since incredibly divisive 2019 flick The Rise of Skywalker, and I suspect some will have hoped that Mando and Baby Yoda's latest adventure would help to wash away the aforementioned film's lingering bad aftertaste.

Occasionally enjoyable though it is, The Mandalorian and Grogu fails to do just that and, as much as it pains me to say it, this isn't the way that Star Wars should've returned to the big screen.

The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in theaters worldwide on Friday, May 22.

“It’s like a community, right? And it’s a global community that people really love and identify with.”

That’s how Bobby Kim, Global Creative Director at Disney Consumer Products, describes Star Wars fandom. And it’s a framing that feels especially fitting as another May the 4th is behind us and we’re weeks out from a big-screen debut.

For millions of fans, myself included, it’s not just a set of films. It’s something more of a shared language — one that extends far beyond the screen into collectibles, toys, robots, video games, and all sorts of media from films and TV shows to books, comics, and shorts.

Inside Disney, that shift is increasingly shaping how Star Wars comes to life. It’s no longer just about the next movie or series, but rather it’s about how fans engage with the universe in between those major moments — and often, that starts with products.

Over a year into his role at Disney Consumer Products, Kim is still adjusting to the scale. Coming from a background in entrepreneurship and underground culture, he’s used to building within tight communities. At Disney, though, the audience is global, multigenerational, and deeply invested.

That level of connection, he says, comes with responsibility. Fans don’t just watch Star Wars — they identify with it. And that changes what a product is supposed to do.

“What Star Wars taught folks like me and artists and designers and creatives is how to understand a story not just from the perspective of cinema, but through the perspective of product,” Kim explained shortly after leading a conversation with The Mandalorian and Grogu director, co-writer, and producer, Jon Favreau.

It’s a simple idea, but it reframes everything from a product generation discussion to planning for a rollout. For decades, Star Wars has existed beyond the screen through toys, collectibles, and apparel, but nearly 50 years on, these products are becoming the experience itself.

From action figures to roleplay items, people can get closer and feel a connection to a specific character or legion – be it Rebel or Imperial – within the franchise. You don’t need to follow every film or series to feel connected. You can build a Lego Star Wars set, collect figures, or display memorabilia and still participate in the world in a meaningful way. Products aren’t just extensions of the story — they’re one of the main ways fans live with it.

That’s also why Disney is continuing to emphasize its internal design teams, ensuring that what it creates in-house reflects the same storytelling DNA as the films and shows.

Technology is pushing that even further, and no better example is Lego Smart Play, and the first wave of Star Wars sets.

“I love what Lego is doing. Smart Play is technology within a product that has enchanted collectors for, you know, eons. Literally.”

For Kim, the key isn’t reinvention — it’s expansion. “It doesn’t replace anything, it’s additive to me. And it’s just a new way that you can play with Lego Star Wars sets in a way that we maybe couldn’t have thought of before.”

That idea of “additive” design hints at where Star Wars products are heading. They’re becoming more interactive, more flexible, and more open to interpretation — less like static objects and more like platforms that fans can shape themselves.

It’s a natural evolution for a franchise that has always thrived on participation. From collecting to cosplay to fan builds, Star Wars has long encouraged people to make it their own. Now, the products themselves are starting to reflect that same philosophy.

And as technology continues to blur the line between physical and digital, that connection is only getting stronger. At the end of April 2026, Hasbro showed off a fully electronic Grogu – one of the most highly detailed and expensive Baby Yoda toys yet.

“I cannot divorce the two: the creative process from technology. It’s always one and the same.”

For Disney, that means designing Star Wars as something that lives across formats — film, yes, but also objects, experiences, and tools for creativity. For fans, especially on May the 4th, it’s a reminder of why the franchise endures. Star Wars isn’t just something you watch.

It’s something you build, collect, and carry with you.

If you're a 4K Blu-ray fan, listen up! Amazon is having a two for £30 offer on all Disney 4K discs, including titles from Star Wars, Marvel, 20th Century Studios and more.

There are tons of options available, but I've picked nine highlights that are worth checking out, all of which I've tested as part of our Blu-ray Bounty column, where we test the latest 4K releases. Some of these discs have even enter my testing rotation of reference discs for testing the best TVs and best soundbars.

If you're looking for a bright, vibrant extravaganza, you can't go wrong with The Sound of Music and The Rocky Horror Picture Show: two fantastic musicals that look as great as they sound.

I may be a day late to Star Wars Day (belated May the 4th be with you) but all of the Star Wars movies are in this sale, but I've picked the original below.

Reference Dolby Atmos discs including Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and Alien: Romulus are sure to give your home theatre a workout, with their thrillingly detailed and accurate Atmos soundtracks.

Check out the rest of my picks below, as well as what I thought of each one during my testing.

Amazon 2 for £30 4K Blu-ray sale — my picks

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music has become one of my go-to testing discs thanks to its outstanding picture quality. It boasts vibrant, punchy colors and crisp textures, thanks to a superb 4K restoration. The market scene above is a particular standout.

The disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is also the best way to enjoy the movie's iconic soundtrack at home, with classic tracks like 'Do Re Mi' sounding better than ever before. Vocals are bright and clear and the score itself is delivered with wonderful clarity.

Alien: Romulus

A superb-looking disc with powerful contrast thanks to its deep black tones and punchy bright tones, Alien: Romulus looks amazing on 4K Blu-ray and has again become a reference testing disc for me. Easily one of the best modern discs I've tested.

The 4K disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is as spine-chillingly lifelike and detailed as you could hope, capturing every unsettling creek and the pitter patter of face-hugger feet. If you've got a full Dolby Atmos system, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking around the room.

Deadpool & Wolverine

Deadpool & Wolverine on 4K delivers seriously impressive colour reproduction, accurately capturing the neon-like saturation of Deadpool and Wolverine's red and yellow costumes respectively. There's also plenty of detail that will look good on any display.

The disc's Dolby Atmos soundtrack does justice to the movie's chaotic nature, capturing every punch with real bass and impact, while mapping every wayward bullet accurately to a full-fledged sound system.

Kingdom of Heaven

Arguably one of the most popular 4K discs in recent years, Kingdom of Heaven looks brilliant in 4K. Textures like weather-beaten skin are presented with lifelike detail, while darker scenes deliver rich, strong contrast perfect for an OLED TV.

Filled with swordfights and large scale battles, Kingdom of Heaven is another action packed blockbuster that will test your sound system thanks to its powerful, detailed Dolby Atmos soundtrack.

Master and Commander

Where Master and Commander really shines is with its Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Delivering shockingly realistic naval battles, this disc had me looking around more than a few times as cannonballs flew through the ship's hull. There's also plenty of bass to test your subwoofer.

Master and Commander is also a great 4K presentation, with rich contrast in the movie's night scenes as well as lush colors and refined textures that have been cleaned up nicely.

Tombstone

A seriously great-looking disc, Tombstone benefits from a fantastic 4K restoration. Colors are bold and accurate, but it's the 3D-like textures that really make this disc shine. People's skin tones, marks and all, are seriously detailed, particularly an ailing Doc Holliday (played brilliantly by the late Val Kilmer).

A DTS-HD 5.1 MA soundtrack is included here and it delivers all the Wild West action you need. Gunfights produce ricocheting bullets and plenty of impactful crashes as stuntmen go flying.

Edward Scissorhands

Edward Scissorhands may be a gothic film at heart, but this 4K disc really shines in its colours. The gaudy, 1950s-style houses and outfits of the neighbourhood really pop on screen, really capturing the borderline eyesore nature of the area.

The movie's Dolby Atmos soundtrack is immersive and detailed, accurately delivering the spirit of Danny Elfman's score, which is filled with heart-wrenching string and big horns, authentically.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

It may have been Star Wars day yesterday, but any day is a good one to watch a classic. While we're still waiting of the 4K disc of the original, theatrical cut, this disc is the best way to experience the iconic movie at home. Bold colours, refined detail and great upscaling, this is the best Star Wars has looked.

With an uncompressed Dolby Atmos soundtrack included, Star Wars sounds excellent on 4K Blu-ray. from John Williams' legendary score to the Death Star trench run with the whaling sounds of TIE Fighters flying overhead, this disc's soundtrack is immersive and dynamic.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Included with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a treat on 4K Blu-ray. Tracks like 'Time Warp' and 'Dammit, Janet' are delivered with the glitz and gusto you'd want from an Atmos soundtrack, balancing power, detail and accuracy all at once, with crystal clear vocals to boot.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 4K Blu-ray delivers crisp textures with realistic skin textures and tones. Colours are also suitably saturated, but authentic-looking thanks to this excellent restoration which breathes new life into this cult classic musical.

TV

Star Wars Day 2026 is finally here, and with Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord in the midst of a premiere run on Disney+, The Mandalorian and Grogu hitting the big screen in just weeks, and a backlog of movies, shows, books, and so much more, there's a lot to celebrate.

So whether you're on the light side of the force or the dark side, I hope you've been blasting some tunes – maybe the Cantina Band or something spun by DJ-R3X – enjoying a glass of blue milk, playing through the latest drops on Fortnite, or watching some of the films.

But, there's of course a bevy of new bounty to discover – new in that there's a bunch of new products, including an incredibly immersive Grogu animatronic, the release of BDX Droid figures at the Disney Store, and a Beskar-themed battery pack for your iPhone. But also new in the form of fresh discounts on some of the best Star Wars Lego sets, Funko Pop! figures, and so much more.

So I've been searching the galaxy near and far to find the best deals of Star Wars Day 2026 as well as new product drops, and am highlighting them all below for you. You'll find that I've broken it up by Legos, Collectibles, Accessories, Home, and Apparel, allowing you to jump to a category or scroll at your own pace.

Either route, May the 4th Be With You, and have a happy, happy Star Wars Day.

Star Wars Day 2026: Lego

Star Wars Day 2026: Collectibles

Star Wars Day 2026: Tech Accessories

Star Wars Day 2026: Home

Star Wars Day 2026: Apparel

As a big Star Wars fan, I recently curated a massive list of themed home office extras for creating the best Star Wars workspace this side of the Dagobah system. It has everything from Vader-based pen holders and desk mats to starship-style keyboards and R2D2 mini fridges.

But during my hunt, one item stood out to me as the ultimate home office find for any Star Wars fan. And it's the officially licensed posable Millennium Falcon desk lamp, which is currently $49.90 (was $59.99) at Amazon. This ultra-detailed 1:180 scale model of Falcon, which switches on in less than 12 parsecs (probably), is also available for £39.99 (was £49.99) at Amazon.co.uk.

Created by Paladone, who create a lot of Star Wars merch, the USB-powered lamp has got a 4.6 star rating on Amazon, with thousands of reviews praising the design and attention to detail. It might not be as bright as a lightsaber in the dark, so I'd recommend pairing it with another lighting source (there are loads of Star Wars-themed ones on Amazon).

Scroll down for more details, and check out my round-up of the best Star Wars home office gear, gifts, and gadgets.

More Star Wars office gear

• Check out the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.com
• See the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.co.uk

The Force is with you, always. As an avowed Star Wars fan with more R2D2 models in his house than is strictly necessary, I've been eagerly anticipating this year's Star Wars day. To celebrate May the 4th, I've curated the best Star Wars-themed home office finds, whether you're a Jedi, a Sith, or a scruffy-looking nerf-herder when it comes to work.

Easily my favorite trilogy of items here are the posable Millennium Falcon desk lamp (an X-Wing version is also available), the downed AT-AT walker perpetual calendar, and the 'Three Wise Stormtroopers', which adds a touch of humor to your workspace that I think Lucas himself would appreciate. All three are available in the US and UK.

Check out my full list below, whether you're upgrading your home office with the classic sci-fi look or finding some cool gifts and gadgets for the Star Wars fan in your life. I've got a good feeling about these...

US gear

• Check out the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.com

UK gear

• See the official Star Wars store page at Amazon.co.uk

The 2026 blockbuster movie season is almost upon us — and TechRadar's entertainment team needs your help to determine what the most anticipated new film of the summer (or winter, for those of you who live south of the equator) will be!

A host of exciting new movies, covering myriad genres and varied age ranges, are set to hit theaters between now and the start of September. Indeed, with the first Star Wars film in almost seven years, 2026's first Marvel movie, and new sci-fi and historical epics from award-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan, respectively, there'll be plenty to choose from in the weeks and months ahead.

Considering how diverse our reader base is, we know each and every one of you will know which movie you'll definitely be spending your hard-earned cash on. So, vote in our mid-2026 blockbuster film season poll below and tell us what your must-see movie is!

Two things to bear in mind before you proceed: one, you can only vote once, so choose wisely. And, two, the poll will end on Wednesday, May 6, at 10:59pm PT, so make sure you cast your vote ASAP.

It's a lot tougher than you initially expected, isn't it? As a huge Spider-Man fan, I'd go for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is the first of two Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flicks that'll debut in theaters this year.

However, there are lots of other exciting options that deserve to be picked in May and June, too. Will you go all-in on The Mandalorian and Grogu in late May? How about the next installment in Pixar's long-running Toy Story film franchise? Or, what about plumping for DC over Marvel and checking out Supergirl?

Spider-Man 4 notwithstanding, July will also give us the previously mentioned offerings from Spielberg and Nolan in Disclosure Day and The Odyssey — will you select one of that pair? Or will you wait all the way until August to catch the latest Insidious film, or another animated-live-action hybrid movie in Coyote Vs Acme? The choice, dear reader, is all yours — and, once you've picked one, let us know in the comments, or on our social media channels, why you selected it.

The above options aren't the only silver screen features due to come out before September. So, if there's another movie you're desperate to see more than the 17 mentioned above, dive into the comments section to reveal why it's your #1 choice.

For more on three films I'm particularly looking forward to, find out everything we know so far about The Mandalorian and Grogu, get the full lowdown on Supergirl, and learn what's been revealed about Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

It’s officially May, and we’re just three days away from May the 4th, when Star Wars Day kicks into high gear. But here’s some good news — if you’re one to celebrate (and let me wish you an early Happy May the 4th), Lego is kicking things off early.

Not only is it officially shipping its latest Star Wars sets — many of which are themed to The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters on May 22, 2026 — but it’s also launched its next Ultimate Collector Series set. Additionally, you can earn double points when purchasing select Star Wars sets directly from Lego, and it’s free to become a Lego Insider to earn them. You can save those points and redeem them for money off future Lego purchases or use them to enter to win other collectibles.

It’s also a weekend with excellent gifts with purchase, and there’s one in particular that I’m eyeing — the Darksaber, which comes free when you spend $160 at Lego. Additionally, you can get a mini build of the Razor Crest — The Mandalorian’s iconic ship — with a spend of $40 or more.

Last but not least, before I highlight my picks from the May 1 Lego Star Wars launches and some deals on sets over at Amazon, we’re approaching launch day for Lego’s next Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series set: The Mandalorian’s N-1 Starfighter. It goes on sale May 4, 2026 — or right now if you’re a Lego Insiders member.