Sega officially announced Crazy Taxi World Tour, a reboot of its racing franchise set to launch in 2027, but immediately sparked controversy by confirming the game used generative AI during development. The announcement came during the Xbox Games Showcase, marking the series' return after a two-decade absence from major releases.
The confirmation of generative AI use in the game's development prompted immediate backlash from the gaming community. Sega responded to the criticism, though specific details about which aspects of the game incorporated AI-generated content were not provided in the initial announcement. The controversy overshadowed what was intended as a celebratory reveal of the franchise's comeback.
The original Crazy Taxi became a cultural phenomenon in arcades and on Dreamcast in the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for its high-speed gameplay and punk rock soundtrack. The series has remained largely dormant as a mainline franchise since the mid-2000s, with only occasional mobile releases and ports of earlier games keeping the brand alive.
The use of generative AI in game development has become an increasingly contentious issue in the industry. Many artists, voice actors, and developers have raised concerns about AI tools potentially replacing human creative work and being trained on copyrighted material without permission. Several major game companies have faced similar backlash when announcing AI implementation in their titles.
Crazy Taxi World Tour represents Sega's attempt to revive one of its classic franchises for modern platforms. The game's 2027 release date gives the company time to address community concerns about the AI implementation, though Sega has already issued responses defending its use of the technology in the development process.