SEGA Announces Crazy Taxi: World Tour, Ignites New Controversy [UPDATE: SEGA Clarifies]

Update 6/8: Kotaku has asked series creator and the lead of Crazy Taxi: World Tour what exact role AI played in the game’s development and this was his answer: “We used it as a reference. So our artists would pull up [and] generate some of their ideas and then they would look at that, you know, generated image and then they would draw the actual thing. So actual creators, everything from programming to assets, everything is made by an actual human. It’s only used as a reference for them to look at and then they would actually create the actual thing that would go into the game.”

Original article:

SEGA has officially announced the next entry in the Crazy Taxi franchise: Crazy Taxi: World Tour, coming in 2027 to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

The trailer (shown above) was revealed during this year’s Xbox Showcase, three years after the game was first announced back in 2023.

So, what do I think of the trailer and gameplay? Incredible. It looks amazing, and I can’t wait to play it.

So what’s the controversy? If you check the Steam page, there’s an AI Generated Content Disclosure at the bottom of the game’s description:

 

“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.

We have used such generative AI support tools during development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game”

This disclaimer has caused a huge uproar within the anti-AI community and it’s a complex issue. Some point out that these tools are used to speed up repetitive coding tasks, and as you can read here, SEGA has been fairly open about not using AI to replace creatives, including voice actors and artists.

But how do you all feel about it?

Game Description:

It’s time for crazy driving, crazy adventure, and crazy money! Crazy Taxi is back and going global!

In this new high-octane adventure, follow Axel as he chases down the mysterious masked villains who stole his beloved taxi. Tackle extreme missions around the world all while earning some CRAZY money!

• Extreme Driving
Perform outrageous drifts, catch insane air, and drive at crazy speeds across five different cities as you work to deliver passengers and complete a variety of missions and challenges.

• World Tour Campaign
Embark on a globetrotting adventure to recover Axel’s stolen car from a mysterious group of international car thieves in a compelling story-driven campaign. Encounter quirky characters, tackle a variety of missions, and navigate diverse terrain across five unique cities around the world.

• Play Your Way
From transporting passengers at top speed to tackling unique side missions and odd jobs across dynamic maps, there are countless ways to drive crazy and rake in big money. Unlock a wide variety of vehicles and customization options to create your own one-of-a-kind ride.

• Modernizing A Classic
The classic gameplay of Crazy Taxi is back and better than ever! Revisit the thrills of the original games in Arcade Mode, featuring a pulse-pounding race against the clock to earn the most cash possible.

• Multiplayer Madness
Turn up the crazy and show off your outrageous driving skills against your friends or online competitors around the world and across platforms in multiple action-packed multiplayer modes.

AI Generated Content Disclosure
The developers describe how their game uses AI Generated Content like this:

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.

We have used such generative AI support tools during development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game.