Crazy Taxi: World Tour Developer Defends Use of Generative AI

Sega's Crazy Taxi: World Tour game uses generative AI, with the original creator defending its use as a reference tool for artists.

Kenji Kanno, the franchise's original creator, explained that generative AI was utilized by the game's artists to spark ideas, following which they would manually create the assets. Kanno emphasized that all aspects of the game, from programming to assets, were crafted by humans with AI serving as a reference tool. He predicts generative AI will become a more significant topic in the gaming industry moving forward.

The game's use of generative AI was revealed through an AI disclosure on Steam, clarifying that it was used as a support tool during development. Sega stated that this technology allows developers to focus on creative tasks by handling background asset creation. Industry analyst Daniel Ahmad noted that while genAI is more accepted in Asian markets, Western developers may face backlash. Ahmad highlighted the importance of how AI is implemented in games and its impact on sales.

World Tour, developed on Unreal Engine, marks the return of the main Crazy Taxi series after nearly two decades. Players will chase down villains who have stolen the iconic yellow taxi in a global race. The game is scheduled for a 2027 release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.