TL;DR
- You play as Shade — a canonical character you can personalize but not fully rebuild from scratch.
- Character customization opens at the start of each Tour, during vehicle selection.
- You can change outfit, body type, helmet, colors, and voice.
- Press F on PC, Square on PlayStation, or X on Xbox to open the Customize screen.
- Changes carry over to Multiplayer mode automatically.
- Customization is purely cosmetic — it does not affect race performance.
One of the first things players ask after booting up Star Wars Galactic Racer is how to make Shade look the way they want. The good news? You have more options than you might expect. The not-so-good news for some players? You cannot build a character from scratch or pick a different species. Shade is Shade — a fixed canonical pilot with a fixed backstory.
But within those limits, there is real room to make this racer feel like yours. Outfits, colors, helmets, and even voice pitch — all of it is up to you. This guide covers exactly how to access character customization, what options you get, and a few things to know before you commit.
For a full breakdown of everything in the game, check out our Star Wars Galactic Racer podracing guide as well.
Who Is Shade in Star Wars Galactic Racer?
Shade is the protagonist of Star Wars Galactic Racer. They are a lone pilot with a personal grudge against Kestar Bool, the reigning champion of the Galactic League. The story puts you in Shade’s shoes as you climb the ranks of this underground racing circuit set after the fall of the Empire.
Shade is referred to as a human character in in-game dialogue. The game lets you define how Shade looks and sounds, but the core identity — backstory, species, personality — stays fixed. Think of it less like a character creator and more like a wardrobe and voice director for an established protagonist.
The good news: your customization choices actually show up in cutscenes and in the paddock between races. You see Shade walking around in whatever you chose. It is not just a helmet-and-never-see-them-again situation.
How to Customize Your Character in Star Wars Galactic Racer
Character customization is tied to the Tour setup screen. You cannot pop into a menu mid-race or from the main hub and change your look on the fly. Here is exactly when and how to do it.
Step 1: Start a New Tour
From the main menu, begin a new Campaign Tour. This will take you through vehicle selection and then drop you on the loadout preparation screen where you pick your Racer Style and Favors.
Step 2: Press the Customize Button
Once you are on the Racer Style and Favors screen, look for the helmet icon in the top right corner. Press the corresponding button to open the Customize tab:
- PC (Keyboard): Press F
- PlayStation: Press Square
- Xbox: Press X
This opens the full character customization panel for Shade.
Step 3: Make Your Changes
Inside the Customize tab, you can freely change every cosmetic option available. Scroll through categories, pick what you like, and confirm. The changes take effect immediately — including in Multiplayer.
If you are in the middle of an active Tour and want a different look, you will need to abandon the current run and restart. There is no way to access the Customize screen while a Tour is already in progress.
Want to know more about how the Tour structure works and what getting knocked out means? See our guide on what happens when you get knocked out of a Tour.
All Character Customization Options in Star Wars Galactic Racer
Here is a breakdown of every category available in the Customize screen and what you can change within each one.
Body Type
At the top level, you choose between Body Type A and Body Type B. This affects which outfit options are available to you, since each body type has its own set of three outfits. The choice is purely visual.
Outfits
Each body type comes with three distinct outfits to pick from. These are racing suits and gear inspired by the broader Star Wars universe, pulling from the aesthetic of the Outer Rim and the Galactic League.
Once you select an outfit, press Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox to cycle through different color palettes for that outfit. There are multiple color options per outfit, so you have decent range here even if the silhouette stays the same.
Helmets
You get three helmet options for Shade. Helmets are not purely decorative either — Shade’s helmet has a narrative reason behind it, tied to injuries sustained before the events of the game. Still, cosmetically you can swap between the available styles and also apply color changes to helmets using the same Triangle/Y button.
Voice
This is one of the more interesting options. There are four base vocal presets to choose from. Two are typically read as more masculine and two as more feminine in tone, though the game does not label them that way explicitly.
Beyond just picking a preset, you can press Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox to adjust the pitch of your chosen voice — higher or lower. This gives you a surprisingly wide range of audio profiles for Shade, making the character feel meaningfully different depending on your choices.
If you skipped the voice selection during your first setup and ended up with a default you do not like, do not panic. You can change it at the start of your next Tour. As confirmed by players in the Steam community, the helmet icon on the loadout screen gives you access to all customization again.
Does Customization Apply to Multiplayer?
Yes. Whatever you set in the Campaign customize screen is what Shade looks like in Multiplayer as well. The changes apply automatically — there is no separate multiplayer appearance setup. When you hop into a Quick Race or Multiplayer Tour, your current Shade look carries over.
This makes it worth putting a bit of thought into your outfit and color choices, especially if you are spending a lot of time in online races where other players will see your character.
For everything you need to know about competing online, check our Star Wars Galactic Racer multiplayer guide and the full breakdown of how to unlock all multiplayer racers.
Does Character Customization Affect Gameplay or Stats?
No. Every cosmetic option for Shade is purely visual and audio. Changing your outfit, helmet, color, or voice does not give you any advantage or disadvantage on the track. It does not affect speed, handling, abilities, or anything performance-related.
If you are looking to actually improve your race performance, that is handled through vehicle upgrades, tuning, and abilities — not your character’s outfit. Check out our guides on how to upgrade abilities, all abilities in the game, and how to reset tuning points for that side of things.
Can You Customize Shade Mid-Tour?
Not during an active run. The customization screen is only accessible at the Tour setup stage, right before you commit to a run. Once a Tour is underway, your look is locked in for that run.
However, at the start of each new Tour — including if you get eliminated and restart — the customization option is available again via the helmet icon on the loadout screen. So it is not a one-time decision. You can refresh your look every time you begin a new run.
Quick Tips for Character Customization
- Try voice pitch adjustment first. A lot of players overlook the pitch slider. It is one of the most impactful ways to make Shade feel personal to you.
- Color matters more than outfit. Since there are only three outfit shapes per body type, colors are where you really differentiate your look. Spend time cycling through them.
- Match your vehicle. Some players like to coordinate Shade’s colors with their vehicle livery for a cohesive look. You can customize your vehicle separately by walking to the front of it in the hangout space — see our full guide on how to customize vehicles in Star Wars Galactic Racer.
- Do not stress the first choice. You can change everything again at the start of your next Tour. Nothing is locked in permanently.
- Multiplayer appearance is synced. Whatever you choose sticks in both Campaign and Multiplayer, so pick something you are happy seeing in online races too.
For more on the overall experience, have a look at our Star Wars Galactic Racer review and our full tips and tricks guide.
Where to Get Star Wars Galactic Racer
The game is available on multiple platforms. You can pick it up here:
Also worth checking out: how to play Star Wars Galactic Racer free on Amazon Luna and how to redeem your pre-order bonus items if you purchased early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fully create a character in Star Wars Galactic Racer?
No. You play as Shade, a fixed canonical character. You can customize their outfit, helmet, colors, and voice, but you cannot change their species, backstory, or create a character from scratch.
How do you open the character customize screen?
Start a new Tour, select your vehicle, and on the Racer Style and Favors screen press F on PC, Square on PlayStation, or X on Xbox to open the Customize tab.
Can you change your character look after starting a Tour?
No. Once a Tour is active, customization is locked until the run ends or you abandon it. The option comes back at the start of every new Tour.
How many outfits are available for Shade?
There are six outfits total — three for Body Type A and three for Body Type B. Each outfit also has multiple color options you can cycle through.
How many voice options does Shade have?
There are four base voice presets. You can also adjust the pitch of each voice higher or lower using Triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox, giving you more variety.
Does the character outfit carry over to Multiplayer?
Yes. Your customization from the Campaign applies to Multiplayer automatically. There is no separate appearance setup for online play.
Does changing Shade’s look affect stats or race performance?
No. All character customization is cosmetic only. It has zero impact on your speed, handling, or abilities during races.
Where can I customize my vehicle separately?
Vehicle customization is done in the hangout space by walking to the front of your vehicle. It is separate from character customization. See our vehicle customization guide for the full breakdown. You can also check the best podracers in the game and all vehicle stats to find your ideal setup.
