Crazy Taxi Is Back And It’s Coming With… Lore?

Disclaimer: Before the writing of this preview, Crazy Taxi's Steam page went live with a disclosure revealing the developer's usage of generative AI 'support tools.' No specifics were shared regarding the exact usage, except to say, 'No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game.' We were unable to question Sega on specifics of its use. Crazy Taxi, the classic 1999 arcade where you pick up cab fares and deliver them around Bay City, is back, and it has fishing. Yes, fishing. But that may not be the wildest addition, however. Crazy Taxi: World Tour is an all-new game in the series, and while at first glance it looks like a remake of the first game with Bay City returning in what appears to be a one-to-one match, it is, in fact, crazier than you can even imagine. So crazy that aside from fishing, it even has lore and world building. The Offspring's All I Want roared as Axel--one of the original Crazy Taxi playable drivers--drove through wooden crates, obliterated patio furniture, and hit ramps as sparks flew, crashing into an iconic San Francisco cable car delivering a mohawk'd punk to his destination. But instead of Crazy Taxi's usual endscreen and ranking in typical arcade game fashion, the game continued, with The Offspring fading into the background, and a vibier soundscape taking its place, leaving Axel to cruise around at his own pace. It was during Axel's off-duty drive that creative director of the Crazy Taxi series, Kenji Kanno, said that for this new installment, he wanted to make the world of Crazy Taxi feel more alive by adding backstory to its drivers, introducing new characters to chat with, and building up its lore. Check out my video preview below to learn more about how the Crazy Taxi: World Tour is adapting the original for the modern era, while staying true to its arcadey zaniness, pop-punk music and all. https://youtu.be/fAWx3-pcZso While I only got to see the return of Bay City, as the name implies, the taxi drivers will be taking their cabs around the world to other iconic cities. Where, however? Sega wouldn't say. But Kanno-san hinted at there being a map representing each continent in the world. Throughout those new maps, you can engage in side hustles that don't just involve being a regular ol' taxi driver. Instead, you'll help a pizza guy make his deliveries (his name is Cheeseburger, by the way). Or help a guy go fishing. These are just a couple examples of the folks you'll cross paths with and learn more about over time. Kanno-san mentioned that each driver will receive a backstory and why/how they became taxi drivers. We'll have to see just how deep that lore goes when the game releases sometime in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.