SEGA’s rebooted Crazy Taxi: World Tour became a focal point for discussion after its reveal at the Xbox Game Showcase, in part because the announcement drew attention to the development team’s use of generative AI tools.
The original Crazy Taxi franchise, created by Kenji Kanno and developed by Sega, debuted in arcades in 1999 and on the Dreamcast in 2000 before being ported to other platforms.
That franchise history and Kanno’s involvement have lent extra weight to developer statements about production methods for the new title.
Kotaku spoke with Kenji Kanno about the role of generative AI in development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour.
Kanno clarified that the studio’s use of generative tools is limited to idea generation and visual reference, and that final assets and programming are produced by human creators.
In his comments, Kanno said developers would generate images as source material, then artists would review those outputs and hand-draw the assets that ultimately appear in the game.
He emphasized that all core work — from programming to asset creation — is completed by human staff, with generative AI serving only as a point of inspiration.
Paraphrasing Kanno’s explanation: the team uses generative AI to produce concept imagery that artists consult, but the generated material is not directly placed into the game; artists and engineers create the final in-game content.
He reiterated that this limited, reference-only approach defines how generative AI is being applied for Crazy Taxi: World Tour and that, while generative AI may become a broader topic in the industry, this is the extent of its use on the current project.
The discussion is notable given ongoing industry conversations about ethical and practical implications of generative AI in game development.
For Crazy Taxi fans, the statement aims to reassure players that the creative work behind the reboot is driven by the series’ human creators, including the involvement and oversight of original creator Kenji Kanno.
SEGA’s announcement at the Xbox Game Showcase and Kanno’s comments to Kotaku provide the verified context for how generative AI tools are being used in this specific revival of a longstanding Sega property.
The original Crazy Taxi franchise, created by Kenji Kanno and developed by Sega, debuted in arcades in 1999 and on the Dreamcast in 2000 before being ported to other platforms.
That franchise history and Kanno’s involvement have lent extra weight to developer statements about production methods for the new title.
Kotaku spoke with Kenji Kanno about the role of generative AI in development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour.
Kanno clarified that the studio’s use of generative tools is limited to idea generation and visual reference, and that final assets and programming are produced by human creators.
In his comments, Kanno said developers would generate images as source material, then artists would review those outputs and hand-draw the assets that ultimately appear in the game.
He emphasized that all core work — from programming to asset creation — is completed by human staff, with generative AI serving only as a point of inspiration.
Paraphrasing Kanno’s explanation: the team uses generative AI to produce concept imagery that artists consult, but the generated material is not directly placed into the game; artists and engineers create the final in-game content.
He reiterated that this limited, reference-only approach defines how generative AI is being applied for Crazy Taxi: World Tour and that, while generative AI may become a broader topic in the industry, this is the extent of its use on the current project.
The discussion is notable given ongoing industry conversations about ethical and practical implications of generative AI in game development.
For Crazy Taxi fans, the statement aims to reassure players that the creative work behind the reboot is driven by the series’ human creators, including the involvement and oversight of original creator Kenji Kanno.
SEGA’s announcement at the Xbox Game Showcase and Kanno’s comments to Kotaku provide the verified context for how generative AI tools are being used in this specific revival of a longstanding Sega property.