Entertainment
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is my childhood podracing dream come true
The podracing scene in The Phantom Menace is one of my favorite movie sequences ever. It’s just so dang cool: The futuristic racers tear over treacherous Tatooine terrain while various Star Wars aliens bark at each other in incomprehensible sci-fi languages. Eventually a young Anakin Skywalker proves his mettle by clawing his way from the back of the pack to win the race, which left an impression on me when I first saw it at 10 years old. I always wished I could pilot a podracer myself. Over the past several days, I’ve been able to live out that dream thanks to Star Wars: Galactic Racer, which takes everything from that brilliant scene and packs it into a thrilling video game.
In Galactic Racer’s campaign, you play as Shade, a cargo pilot who gets a shot at racing in the underground Galactic League circuit to eventually challenge the smarmy champion Kestar Bool. The game is basically a roguelike. You start a run (called a “tour”) by picking between a few different vehicles — though you don’t get to drive a podracer until partway through the campaign — and selecting various perks that can influence your style of play. Races themselves take place across a few planets, including the desert Jakku planet from The Force Awakens, and you’ll pick different events to participate in from a branching map screen. After each race, you’ll get rewards to help craft your build, and along the way, you’ll also play brief sections where you walk around as Shade, talk with other characters, and upgrade your vehicle.
It’s all standard roguelike stuff, but the familiar format lets me better focus on the races themselves, which are really intense. Turns and obstacles that look far away come up in the blink of an eye, forcing you to react in an instant. Two different kinds of boosts mean you’re constantly surging forward in some way. And all the while, other racers are on the hunt, often ramming your craft or targeting you with weapons. I nearly always felt like I was just on the cusp of losing control, and a split-second mistake usually results in a crash. (When you crash, the whole game also briefly stops to showcase your wreckage flying across the track, which is satisfying in its own way.) Things get even more intense when you finally get into an actual podracer.
It’s extreme in the way that I imagined racing a vehicle in the Star Wars universe would actually be. There’s more to that feeling than the races themselves, though as developer Fuse Games — a relatively new studio with former staffers of Need for Speed, Burnout, and Star Wars Battlefront maker Criterion Games — makes the whole experience feel authentically Star Wars. The speeders and vehicles are grungy and worn, and your fellow racers constantly bicker at each other. (You’ll hear a lot of Huttese.) There are wipe transitions between scenes and bombastic, John Williams-esque music. My favorite touch might be the brief scene before each race where you press different buttons to prepare your vehicle, like what the racers do in The Phantom Menace.
That intensity also means that the campaign can be frustrating. I crashed a lot, often because I couldn’t see an obstacle in front of me until far too late, and the opposing racers can be extremely aggressive. I sometimes wished I actually had the reflexes of a Jedi to be able to keep up. A run can take a long time — late in the game, they can exceed two hours — which makes a late loss exasperating. Between tours, you can permanently boost your vehicle’s stats to make the next run easier, though that wasn’t always enough to make the pain of a loss worth it. Occasionally, I turned down the difficulty so that I could play without as much pressure.
Even after a brutal tour, though, I kept finding myself thinking about when I could carve out the time for another run. Galactic Racer isn’t the first Star Wars racing title, but it feels like the best realization yet of a game that embodies what made The Phantom Menace’s racing scene so memorable. I know I’ll never actually get to pilot a podracer, but Galactic Racer is close enough for me to live out my childhood dream.
Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6th on PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Entertainment
Hilary Swank, 52, announces she’s pregnant with baby No. 3
Hilary Swank is expecting her third child in December.
The “Million Dollar Baby” actress, 52, took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a video of herself, husband Philip Schneider and their 3-year-old twins, Aya and Ohm, dancing and wearing what appeared to be glow sticks taped to their bodies.
Swank also showed off her baby bump featuring a tiny glow stick baby.
“A lot of people have been asking what project I’m doing next, this one releases in December. 😉👼🏼🫶🏼,” she captioned the creative family video.
Fans in the comments thread were in disbelief, with one person writing, “Whatsssss ? Wait, am I crazy, or are you pregnant again?”
Another wrote, “Ahhh congratulations!!! How beautiful! What a fun announcement 😍❤️” while a third chimed in, “Best news of the day, week, month and year!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!”
A fourth gushed, “As a 44 year old mom of twin 7 year olds, I’m so excited and impressed!! I would love to have another baby if only I had the stamina!!!! Enjoy your new hormones 😊”
Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
Start your day with Page Six Daily.
Thanks for signing up!
Enter your email address
Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Want celebrity news as it breaks?
The Oscar winner and Schneider welcomed Aya and Ohm back in April 2023. She was 48 at the time.
“It wasn’t easy. But boy (and girl!) was it worth it. 👼🏼🤍👼🏼 Happy Easter!” she captioned a snapshot of herself holding the infants while taking in a sunset.
She added, “🐣🐣 Posting from pure Heaven. 🙌🏽.”
The actress first announced she was becoming a mom during an interview on “Good Morning America” in October 2022.
The “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress gushed that she was “so happy” to share the news, confessing that it was something she’d “been wanting for a long time.”
“And not just of one but of two,” she added.
Swank — who was previously married to actor Chad Lowe — and Schneider tied the knot in California back in 2018.
Image gallery
Entertainment
Chuck Lorre says Anna Faris’ exit from ‘Mom’ confirmed his casting concerns
Chuck Lorre suggested his reservations about Anna Faris starring in “Mom” had been “correct” when she left the show for “mysterious reasons.”
The co-creator of the hit CBS comedy reveals in his new memoir, “Sitcom,” that he was initially hesitant to cast Faris, 49, in the lead role, despite her being the network’s first choice to play Christy Plunkett.
“I wasn’t sure Anna would be appropriate for this kind of material,” Lorre, 73, writes in his book. “Then I thought about how badly I’d bungled my working relationship with Charlie Sheen.”
In his memoir, Lorre claims that Melanie Lynskey was “terrified” of Sheen while filming the final episode of “Two and a Half Men” ahead of the actor’s 2011 exit from the show.
He also writes that the cast and crew were in a “constant state of anxiety” around Sheen.
Sheen, 61, would later tell Lorre to “suck his f–king butt” during a radio show tirade over his “firing,” but the pair eventually mended their relationship when Lorre realized Sheen would be perfect for a role in his HBO comedy series “Bookie.”
Want more celebrity and pop culture news?
Start your day with Page Six Daily.
Thanks for signing up!
Enter your email address
Please provide a valid email.
By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Want celebrity news as it breaks?
Reflecting on his experience with Sheen, Lorre says he reconsidered his reservations about Faris, writing, “Someone’s personal life is none of my business. The mom in ‘Mom’ would be, and should be, Anna Faris.”
The “Scary Movie” actress went on to star alongside Allison Janney, who played Bonnie Plunkett, from 2013 to 2020, before exiting the series ahead of its eighth season.
“As the years went by, it became apparent that my initial reluctance to hire Anna was, in fact, correct,” Lorre writes in his memoir. “After six years, she left the show for mysterious reasons that were not mysterious to anyone on the show.”
Lorre praises the show’s later seasons, writing that “‘Mom’ found its true voice” by showing that “there is hope, and there is laughter in overcoming the seemingly fatal disease of alcoholism.”
He also criticizes CBS for canceling the series after eight seasons in 2021, writing, “CBS decided they could live without a perfect cast led by a national treasure. They canceled a show starring Allison Janney.”
Faris would later open up about her decision to leave “Mom” during a June appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
“I do think the intensity, like, towards the end, I think I started to lose my focus,” Faris said.
“I’d never had a job, besides waitressing, for over three and a half months before,” she added, noting that her decision to leave came during a “complicated time.”
Image gallery
Entertainment
Listen to Hayden Panettiere 911 call as Brian Hickerson’s brother desperately tries to save actress’ life
Zach Hickerson’s desperate attempts to save actress Hayden Panettiere’s life have been revealed in a a newly released 911 audio dispatch.
A 911 call, obtained by CBS News Wednesday, revealed Brian Hickerson’s brother called authorities in a panic after finding the “Heroes” alum unresponsive in an Airbnb in South Carolina on Aug. 16.
“Oh god, oh my god,” Zach — who said he had just returned from church when he found her — can be heard on the call before the dispatcher asked if Panettiere was breathing. “No, I don’t think so.”
The dispatcher instructed Zach to find a defibrillator, which he was unable to locate. He then confirmed the actress was not breathing.
“OK, we need to start CPR,” the dispatcher told Zach. “I’m going to tell you how to do CPR, OK? We’re gonna start with ventilation first.”
Zach proceeded to perform the life-saving measures on Panettiere until first responders arrived and took over.
The “I Love You Beth Cooper” star was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:32 p.m. local time. She was 36.
Additionally, a police report previously obtained by Page Six revealed Brian, who was involved in an on-again, off-again relationship with Panettiere since 2018, gave officers a “bag of medication” she had been taking.
Page Six confirmed that Panettiere died from the toxic effects of 4-ANPP, fentanyl, methocarbamol, alprazolam and quetiapine.
Her manner of death was ruled an accident, with “no signs of trauma were discovered that would have contributed to the death.”
Hayden’s death was confirmed by her father, Skip Panettiere, via a statement that same day.
“She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen,” he wrote. “We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss.”
Ahead of her death, Hayden was candid about her ongoing addiction to opioids and alcohol, and her journey with postpartum depression.
The “Nashville” alum recalled in 2015 the “really scary” and “painful” experience after she gave birth to her and her then-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko’s now 11-year-old daughter, Kaya.
“There’s a lot of misunderstanding — there’s a lot of people out there that think it’s not real, that’s it not true, that it’s something that’s made up in their minds, that, ‘Oh, it’s hormones,’” she shared on a vulnerable episode of “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
“They brush it off. It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.”
Ultimately, Hayden’s battle with addiction led to her engagement with Klitschko ending in 2018, and her giving full custody of Kaya to her ex.
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” Hayden said in 2022, per People. “But I wanted to be a good mom to her — and sometimes that means letting them go.”
According to a Greenville County Coroner’s Office obtained by Page Six, Hayden had allegedly overdosed and entered rehab before she died.
Entertainment
Kaley Cuoco gives birth to second baby with fiancé Tom Pelphrey
Kaley Cuoco and fiancé Tom Pelphrey’s second child has arrived.
The “Big Bang Theory” alum gave birth to baby No. 2, a girl named Philomena Carmine Bobby, on Monday, three years after welcoming daughter Matilda.
“There are no words to describe this feeling once again,” Cuoco, 40, wrote on Instagram Wednesday, alongside photos of the couple with their newborn daughter.
“What a blessing,” she continued. “We are so grateful for the crazy wild up and down journey that brought us to our little Philo! Family officially complete 😭Time to bring Matilda’s baby home! 😂💕.”
Cuoco also wrote that Pelphrey’s “life exploded the minute we met, and the gifts keep coming.”
“I love you forever, girl daddy,” she concluded her post.
The actress announced her pregnancy news — and the little one’s sex — in a June Instagram post.
“completing our little family , what a dream come true ! 💖” Cuoco captioned the social media upload at the time.
“This second time around journey has been a little windier in many ways, but wow we are so grateful for this moment!!” she continued. “Little sissy on the way!!!”
The “Flight Attendant” star concluded by dubbing her partner a “girl dad for life.”
She and Pelphrey, 44, have been an item since 2022.
The duo, who share the same management team, started dating on the heels of Cuoco’s divorce from second husband Karl Cook.
Before marrying the equestrian in 2018, Cuoco was married to tennis star Ryan Sweeting from 2013 to 2016.
Five months after going public with Pelphrey, Cuoco revealed she and the “Ozark” alum were starting a family.
Matilda was born in March 2023, with the new mom gushing, “Overjoyed and grateful for this little miracle. … @tommypelphrey didn’t think I could fall even more in love with you, but I did.”
The following year, Pelphrey proposed to the Emmy nominee — despite her previously swearing off ever walking down the aisle again.
“Amazing weekend,” the bride-to-be wrote alongside her August 2024 engagement ring debut.
Cuoco subsequently teased to People that “maybe another kid” would “come first” before they walked down the aisle.
The “Meet Cute” star, who had yet to “start planning anything” for their nuptials, quipped, “We’re gonna go way out of order. That’s our plan.”
Entertainment
‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ Renewed For Season 2 By Apple TV
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed will be back for another go-round. Apple TV announced Wednesday that it has renewed the dark comedy thriller for a second season.
A writers room is underway, we hear, with Season 2 production slated for the first half of 2027.
Starring Emmy winner Tatiana Maslany and Jake Johnson, Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed follows newly divorced mom Paula (Maslany) as she falls down a dangerous rabbit hole of blackmail, murder and youth soccer. Convinced that she witnessed a crime — while simultaneously struggling through a custody battle and an identity crisis — Paula begins her own investigation, one that could unravel a greater conspiracy while also holding the keys to rebuilding her family and sense of self.
RELATED: 2026 TV Cancellations Photo Gallery: Series Ending This Year & Beyond
The series hails from Apple Studios and Counterpart Studios and is written and executive produced by creator and showrunner David J. Rosen. David Gordon Green served as director and executive producer. The series is also developed by and executive produced by Simon Kinberg and Audrey Chon for Genre Films under their first-look deal with Apple TV, and Bard Dorros for Anonymous Content.
In addition to Maslany and Johnson, the ensemble cast is led by Murray Bartlett, Dolly De Leon, Brandon Flynn, Jessy Hodges, Jon Michael Hill, Charlie Hall, Kiarra Hamagami Goldberg and Nola Wallace.
“We are delighted to continue the story of MPG and deeply grateful to Apple and our incredible cast and crew,” said Rosen. “This is all pretty amazing for a show whose title came from a spam email.”
-
Entertainment2 weeks ago‘Verity’ Posts $4.5M Previews, ‘Digger’ $1.2M
-
Entertainment2 weeks agoRick Devens Wins In Season 28 Finale
-
Entertainment6 days agoTravis Barker reveals why he underwent surgery after concerning hospital photos
-
Business2 weeks agoTesla Cybercab pressure to expand after rocky first month in Austin
-
Business2 weeks agoOpenAI safety employee resigns, claiming the company’s ‘culture is broken’
-
Business1 week agoEnergy Secretary Chris Wright says Trump was “well aware of the risks to energy flows” before launching Iran war
-
Business2 weeks ago
Leaked Anthropic IPO prospectus: The US government could hurt our business
-
HealthNews1 week agoDes Moines clinics stumped by unidentified virus
