The reason is simple – at speeds of up to 900 km/h, open spaces would be "just... boring."
Project Director Matt Webster said:
We want every turn, every canyon, and every jump to be designed manually to give the maximum dose of adrenaline.
Instead of free exploration, carefully staged races on different planets will be offered. This will allow achieving a high density of details, which is difficult to implement on a huge map.
The story unfolds during the New Republic era, a period known from the series "The Mandalorian". After the fall of the Empire, underground racing leagues flourish. The player will become a newcomer: you need to win races, monitor the equipment, build relationships with mechanics, and avoid the attention of the authorities.
The story focuses on rivalry with specific opponents. In structure, the project resembles TOCA Race Driver, but in the setting of "Star Wars."