SEGA Confirms Generative AI Used in Crazy Taxi: World Tour Background Assets, Sparking Debate
SEGA has confirmed that Crazy Taxi: World Tour used generative AI in its development, specifically for background assets, as disclosed in the game's Steam listing. Series creator Kenji Kanno stated the AI was used only as 'reference,' while the game's lead acknowledged generative AI will remain a 'hot topic' but defended its continued use for development efficiency. The announcement drew backlash across Western gaming communities and online forums, prompting SEGA to provide additional clarification about the extent of AI involvement.
Sources (4)
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EN-ORIGINAL (3)
Logging on this morning and seeing that Sega have disclosed their use of generative AI as part of Crazy Taxi: World Tour's development was not on my Bingo card.
Rock Paper Shotgun21h
Crazy Taxi: World Tour PS5 Only Used Generative AI for 'Reference', Insists Series Creator.
Push Square1d
Crazy Taxi: World Tour Lead Says Generative AI Will Continue To Be A 'Hot Topic,' But They're Using It Anyway:
Kotaku1d
How sources are framing this
Push Square ran two separate pieces reflecting the evolving story — an initial reaction piece framing AI use negatively, then a follow-up giving Kanno's 'reference only' clarification more prominence; Kotaku leaned into the labor-displacement angle while Rock Paper Shotgun emphasized the background-assets detail.
What we know
- Crazy Taxi: World Tour's Steam page explicitly discloses the use of generative AI in the game's development.
- SEGA confirmed AI was used to produce background assets, not core gameplay or character art.
- Series creator Kenji Kanno insisted generative AI was used only for 'reference' purposes.
- The game's lead developer acknowledged the controversy but said SEGA would continue using generative AI regardless.
- The disclosure sparked debate in online communities over development efficiency versus the displacement of human artists.
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