Sega has officially announced the return of one of its most beloved arcade franchises with Crazy Taxi: World Tour.

Revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest, the high-octane reboot is slated for a 2027 release and promises to take the classic arcade formula to a global scale.

However, the initial wave of fan nostalgia has quickly been met with intense online debate following disclosures regarding the development team’s use of generative artificial intelligence.

A Nostalgic Return with a Global Twist

The announcement trailer immediately struck a chord with longtime fans, blasting the iconic punk-rock anthems of The Offspring—including the classic track “All I Want”—as a yellow cab careened through city streets, smashing through soda stands and launching over massive hills.

For a franchise that has largely been dormant since its arcade and Dreamcast heyday, World Tour looks poised to bring back the chaotic, stunt-driven, fare-collecting gameplay that defined late-90s gaming.

While the core mechanics remain deeply rooted in arcade tradition, Crazy Taxi: World Tour introduces several modern alterations.

The title will feature a traditional “Arcade Mode” with a strict time limit for purists who just want to ferry quirky passengers across town. Alongside it, a brand-new “World Tour” mode will introduce a narrative-driven campaign.

The story centers on the series’ mainstay protagonist, Axel, whose beloved taxi is stolen by a mysterious group of masked thieves.

Players will embark on a globe-trotting mission across five distinct international cities to track down the villains and retrieve Axel’s car.

While San Francisco is the only confirmed location so far, Sega has teased a variety of extreme missions, mini-games against the clock, and drifting challenges designed to appeal to both veterans and a new generation of players.

Additionally, the game will feature multiple multiplayer modes, allowing players to compete against friends and online opponents simultaneously.

The Generative AI Debate

Despite the excitement surrounding the gameplay, the reveal quickly drew scrutiny across social media after a mandatory disclosure on the game’s Steam page noted the integration of generative AI tools during development.

In an official statement, Sega corporate defended the decision, framing the technology as an efficiency tool:

“At Sega Corporation, generative AI is available as an optional support tool for developers, enabling our teams to focus more on creative tasks and ultimately focus on what matters most: delivering better games to our consumers.”

Sega initially stated that the technology was used specifically to assist developers in creating background assets, noting that all final generated materials remained subject to human review.

They also explicitly clarified that “no AI was used in reference to the performers in the game,” ensuring that human voice actors and stunt performers remain unimpacted.

The initial disclosure triggered a swift backlash from a segment of the gaming community who view generative AI as a threat to human artistry.

Critics argue that relying on automated software erodes the soul and intent of video game design, raising fears that it could lead to a wave of generic, derivative aesthetic content.

Director Kenji Kanno Clarifies AI Scope

Seeking to temper the growing controversy, Crazy Taxi series creator and game director Kenji Kanno addressed the situation directly during a post-showcase Q&A event at Summer Game Fest.

Speaking via a translator, Kanno clarified that the role of artificial intelligence in World Tour was far more limited than the initial Steam page disclosure implied.

According to Kanno, generative AI was utilized strictly during the early ideation and conceptual stages of development. Developers used the tools to quickly mock up environmental concepts and place temporary placeholder assets to test layouts. Kanno emphasized that the final retail release will not actually contain any AI-generated assets.

“Everything from programming to assets, everything is made by an actual human,” Kanno stated.

He reiterated that the tools were only used as a reference point for the human artists, who then built the actual in-game models entirely from scratch.

Launch Details and Platforms

Sega is aiming for a massive multiplatform rollout, ensuring the game bypasses exclusivity deals. Crazy Taxi: World Tour is confirmed to launch on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam, and Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch 2 successor console.

Furthermore, the game will feature Xbox Play Anywhere support, allowing players who purchase the title on Xbox to seamlessly cross-save and pick up their progress on PC.

While there is currently no word on whether the game will launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, Sega intends to reveal final pricing and concrete release dates as development progresses toward 2027.