Following an absence spanning almost two and a half decades, a fresh installment of the iconic Crazy Taxi series is set to launch next year. The announcement was made during the Xbox Games Showcase on Sunday, where a trailer for Sega’s reboot was unveiled.
Titled Crazy Taxi: World Tour, the game is slated for release in 2027. Although the trailer suggested that players would traverse various cities worldwide (as implied by the game’s title), all showcased footage centered on gameplay within the city from the original Crazy Taxi.
This city, which was subsequently named West Coast in subsequent sequels, bears a striking resemblance to San Francisco. It features steep jumps, cable cars, and a bay area, offering a familiar yet refreshed setting for players.
In the original Crazy Taxi, the bustling cityscape was adorned with a variety of establishments based on real-life brands, a novelty that added an authentic touch to the game when it debuted in 1999. Among these were recognizable franchises such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, as well as retail outlets like Tower Records and clothing stores Levi and Fila.
Fast forward to the present day, and a recent closed-doors demonstration of the game at Summer Game Fest revealed a refreshed West Coast cityscape teeming with new branded establishments. Although these new additions may have replaced some of the original shops, it is yet to be confirmed if the classic retail outlets from the first game still exist within this updated urban landscape.
In the latest iteration of the beloved franchise, players will once again traverse a vibrant cityscape dotted with familiar real‑world establishments. From bustling cafés to iconic retail chains, the map showcases a curated selection of recognizable brands.
While this list is not exhaustive and the game promises to whisk players to new locales across the globe, it hints at the possibility of additional brands making an appearance—perhaps even a nostalgic return of favorites from the original title.
These inclusions confirm that a fan‑favourite feature from the classic game is making a comeback in Crazy Taxi World Tour, now enriched with a fresh roster of shops and eateries.
The reboot is being crafted by Sega’s Sapporo Studio, a studio founded in December 2021 that supports the development of a wide array of Sega titles.
The original Crazy Taxi first captured arcade audiences in 1999, but it truly ignited a frenzy when a home version launched on the Dreamcast in 2000, eventually ranking as the console’s third best‑selling title in the United States.
While the franchise has spawned numerous sequels and spin‑offs, the most recent brand‑new mainline entry, Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller, debuted 24 years ago as an exclusive for Xbox.
News Source: VGC
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