Crazy Taxi World Tour officially announced, Sega immediately upsets everyone by announcing it used generative AI

Sega officially unveiled Crazy Taxi: World Tour during the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, marking the franchise’s first major release in 24 years. The game will launch across PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S in 2027, featuring a modernized San Francisco-inspired map with the original driver Alex returning alongside rival drivers. The reboot includes a World Tour Campaign, Arcade Mode, and online multiplayer, maintaining the series’ sunny aesthetic while delivering high-octane driving action across diverse global locations.

The announcement quickly turned controversial when players discovered that Sega used generative AI during development. The game’s Steam page disclosure stated: “At SEGA Corporation, we utilize generative AI as a support tool for developers, aiming to provide better content to our users and enable developers to focus more on creative tasks.” Sega later clarified to Game Informer that AI supported background asset creation specifically, with no AI used for character performers or voice work.

The revelation sparked immediate backlash within the gaming community, overshadowing the otherwise positive reception of the game’s visuals and gameplay design. The controversy reflects broader industry tensions around generative AI implementation in game development. The announcement comes as part of Sega’s larger 2023 initiative to reboot five classic franchises—Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, and Streets of Rage—with Shinobi: The Art of Vengeance having previously launched to critical acclaim last August.

Crazy Taxi World Tour officially announced, Sega immediately upsets everyone by announcing it used generative AI

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