Disney Infinity 3.0 games are activated by a physical plastic "base". Placing sold-separately plastic character figures on the base unlocks that character for play in the game. Two players can play together at any time by placing two figures on the base.

"Play sets", which are sold as large plastic pieces that sit at the back of the base, provide the game's story content. With themes based on Disney properties or films, the play sets are only playable with characters from their own series and play out like a traditional video game with stages, dialogue and objectives.

Infinity 3.0 also includes the free-form toy-box mode, in which players can mix and match elements to create their own worlds and games and play them with any of their characters. Extra enemies, vehicles and objects from the Disney universes can be unlocked in the toy box by playing through the game or buying packs of "power discs" at retail.

People making toy-box content around the world can submit their designs to Disney, which may feature them and make them playable for everyone. Therefore the game's playable content is endless, whether you're creating or playing.

The incentive to keep playing with your favourite characters in much stronger in 3.0 than in previous games, as characters grow stronger and unlock more powerful abilities as you go.

What's included in the starter pack?

Most people will purchase the game's starter pack, which, unsurprisingly, focuses squarely on Star Wars. At $99.95 the pack includes the game, the base, Anakin and Ahsoka figures and the Twilight of the Republic play set.

If you or your kids are into Star Wars, the pack is great value, because Twilight of the Republic is a really solid Star Wars game.

Taking control of the included two characters (or other Star Wars folk sold separately), Twilight of the Republic players travel the galaxy to track down a nefarious individual who activated a droid factory on Geonosis​. It feels like a long, interactive episode of the Clone Wars TV show, complete with plenty of humour and unexpectedly satisfying PG combat.

The play set could keep players going a long time owing to the potential to replay with future Star Wars figures. For example if you pick up a Chewbacca figure later on you'll be able to come back and play through the whole thing again as the loveable Wookie.

The starter pack is the only way to get a new version of the game with a base, so if this is your first Disney Infinity game this is the version you'll have to get. 

What if I bought an earlier version?

All the physical stuff you already have – figures, power discs and toy box games – will work with the toy-box mode in Disney Infinity 3.0, so don't throw it away!

If you already have a base and figures and just want to upgrade to the new software you can download Disney Infinity 3.0 direct from your console's store (it's $24.95 on PlayStation 4, but looks like it's more expensive on Xbox platforms so be sure to check). If you like, you can grab the Star Wars:Twilight of the Republic play set (including the two figures) at retail for $39.95. Doing things this way gets you all the content of the starter pack with a saving of up to $35.05.

What other content is available?

Starter pack content notwithstanding, there is a play set themed after Pixar's Inside Out, which also includes two character figures, for $39.95.

At launch there are 15 stand-alone character figures available, for $17.95 each:

• Star Wars' Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, which can be used in the starter play set
• Four other Star Wars figures, which can be unlocked for use in the starter play set
• Three Inside Out figures, which can be used in the related play set.
• Mickey and Minnie Mouse
• Sam and Quorra from Tron
• Mulan
• Olaf from Frozen.

In addition, there are three packs of power discs, two Star Wars-themed, and one based on Tomorrowland, at $11.95 each.

What else is coming this year?

On October 8, a second Star Wars play set based on the original trilogy will be available. Called Rise Against the Empire, it includes Luke and Leia figures and costs $39.95.

Several more classic Star Wars figures, including Han Solo and Chewbacca, are launching at the same time at $17.95 each.

Also in October, a special disc called Toy Box Takeover will be released for $24.95, which unlocks a set of toy-box missions designed by Disney that pits players against classic villains. A toy-box disc based on racing games will follow at a later date.

A Marvel superheroes play set is slated for some time in the future, with Hulkbuster Iron Man and Ultron figures to be released in November.

A third Star Wars play set based on the upcoming film will be released in December.

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