Watching series creator Kenji Kanno talk about Crazy Taxi: World Tour at Summer Game Fest 2026, it is hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm. Sporting a look that feels more like a seasoned rock star than a traditional executive, Kanno speaks about this revival with a clear goal: he wants to make a game that helps people smile and express themselves.
A New Spin on Arcade Classics
While Sega’s official reasoning for the project is to revitalize legacy IP for a new generation, Kanno’s approach feels deeply personal. During his demonstration, he even hummed the iconic opening of The Offspring’s "All I Want," a sound that instantly signals the return of the high-octane energy fans remember from the 1999 original.
The demo showcased a city map based on the original game's west coast aesthetic, complete with the same bright blue skies and frantic stunts. However, World Tour is expanding the scope significantly. Beyond the classic "Crazy Rush" mode—which focuses on delivering passengers as quickly as possible—the game features a full campaign mode. During the presentation, players saw mission variety that includes transporting a pizza chef named Cheeseburger while protecting a precarious stack of pies, and even a fishing mini-game that uses the cab's controls to reel in a catch.
Gameplay Changes and Unanswered Questions
Despite the charm, the title remains in a "too early to tell" phase. There are visible shifts in the core mechanics, such as a new nitrous boost that allows players to power through traffic. It is not yet clear how more technical maneuvers from the original, like the backdash and drift, will function. In the classic game, these relied on shifting between drive and reverse, but the footage shown at the event suggested a potentially simplified control scheme.
Kanno’s Q&A session was similarly tight-lipped. When pressed for details, he often deferred to the PR representatives in the room. He could not confirm the full roster of playable characters beyond a promise that they "won't betray your expectation," nor could he clarify if the soundtrack would change based on the game's five planned locations. Sega also requested that specific licensed shops and restaurants seen in the demo be excluded from reports, noting they are "not yet final."
The AI Controversy
The reception to the game has been complicated by the revelation that Crazy Taxi: World Tour was developed, in part, using generative AI. The excitement in the room at Summer Game Fest—driven by Kanno’s infectious passion for the series—contrasts sharply with the online discourse that has emerged in the month since the announcement. For fans who have waited years for this revival, the technical and ethical questions surrounding its development remain a significant point of discussion as we head toward the 2027 release date.
For now, Kanno’s message to the long-waiting fanbase is simple: "Sorry to keep you waiting. Crazy Taxi has a very special place in my heart as well."