Crazy Taxi
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"Classic Sonic" Joins Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds In A Free Update This Week
Sega has released a free update for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, adding "Classic Sonic" as a playable character to celebrate the blue blur's 35th birthday. The update also includes a new Sega Music Collection, with Axel and Amigo scheduled to join later in August and September respectively. This content follows the announcement of Season Pass 2, which will feature DLC packs based on Godzilla, Evangelion, Pac-Man, Minecraft, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds May Not Have Sold Well, But It Gets More Awesome by the Month
Despite selling below expectations, SEGA is committed to supporting Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds with multiple free content additions throughout the year, including classic characters and music from other SEGA franchises. Upcoming additions feature characters from Crazy Taxi and Samba de Amigo, alongside music from Space Channel 5 and Burning Rangers, and an expansion pack with Godzilla and Evangelion content.
Classic Sonic coming to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds today
SEGA announced that Classic Sonic will be added to Sonic Racing CrossWorlds today as part of the franchise's 35th birthday celebrations. Additionally, characters Axel from Crazy Taxi and Amigo from Samba de Amigo have had their release dates teased.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds free character updates Classic Sonic, Axel, and Amigo announced
SEGA has announced free character updates for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, adding Classic Sonic, Axel from Crazy Taxi, and Amigo from Samba de Amigo as playable characters throughout June, August, and September. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Sega plans to release two unnamed 'new titles from flagship IP' in FY2027
Sega has revealed plans to release two unannounced titles from its flagship intellectual properties within the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027. These new games will be released alongside Stranger Than Heaven and Persona 4 Revival, which are also slated for the same fiscal year. The company also mentioned plans for four or more "mainstay titles" in FY2028.
Data analyst finds 'AI stigma' on Steam can reduce the number of reviews a game gets by around 53%—and…
A data analysis by Ross Burton for Game Oracle suggests that games disclosing the use of artificial intelligence face an 'AI stigma' on Steam, leading to approximately a 53% reduction in reviews compared to games that do not disclose AI use. This penalty is more pronounced for high-potential games and developers with established track records, indicating that player perception significantly impacts reception despite the tool's utility in game development.
Sonic The Hedgehog 35th anniversary interview - the persistence of an icon
Sega's Takashi Iizuka and Ivo Gerscovich discuss the enduring appeal of Sonic The Hedgehog on its 35th anniversary. They highlight the character's core identity of freedom and speed, the importance of balancing legacy with innovation, and the franchise's expansion into various media like movies, comics, and audio dramas. The interview also touches on future game development, potential spin-offs for supporting characters, and the strategy behind successful brand collaborations.
Former Dragon Age writer says AI could make gamedev 'frustrating as hell': 'How are we going to train up the next generation of devs if we eliminate every entry-level task?'
Former BioWare writer David Gaider expressed concerns that generative AI could make game development "frustrating as hell" by eliminating entry-level tasks crucial for training new developers. He highlighted issues with AI inconsistency and the ethical implications of using artists' data without consent, a sentiment echoed by other developers like David Szymanski and Danny Koo.
Palworld studio says 'gamers don't want' AI in their games: 'It feels like everyone who is super gung-ho about it isn't from the industry'
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that gamers do not want AI in their games, comparing the current enthusiasm for AI to early cryptocurrency trends. He believes that those heavily promoting AI in game development are outsiders looking for quick profit, though he acknowledges AI's utility as a search tool or coding assistant. Buckley emphasized that the company prioritizes its human artists and sees no reason to replace them with AI-generated assets, especially given the potential backlash.
Evening Reading - June 18, 2026
Shacknews' Evening Reading for June 18, 2026, highlights that Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders will begin on June 25th with the cover art revealed. The article also touches on reviews for The Adventures of Elliot and UFC 6, new Pokémon content, Apple's price increases, Epic Games' use of AI in Unreal Engine, and various other internet curiosities including custom game art and mods.
GTA and Crazy Taxi collide in Steam Next Fest's biggest isekai surprise
Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! is a unique Steam Next Fest demo that blends Grand Theft Auto-style vehicular chaos with Crazy Taxi-like delivery mechanics. Players use a delivery truck to cause havoc and earn experience points for a resurrected corporate marketer, Carissa, in a fantasy world. Developed by Strange Scaffold, the game features a clash between its dark premise and cutesy anime presentation, with driving action that also draws comparisons to The Simpsons Hit & Run.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour Announced
SEGA has announced Crazy Taxi: World Tour, a new entry in the driving adventure series. The game is set to release on PC and consoles next year. An announcement trailer was recently released.
Unreal Engine's big new idea is letting gen-AI LLMs plug directly into it and talk to it
Epic Games has introduced a new tool for Unreal Engine 5.8 that allows generative AI large language models to directly integrate with and control the engine via text prompts. This tool, called the Unreal MCP plugin, was demonstrated by Michael Lentine and is available now for developers, significantly reducing the time needed for asset creation and iteration.
Crazy Taxi World Tour main draw will be single-player experience, but there will be multiplayer
Previews for Crazy Taxi World Tour indicate that the game will remain faithful to the original while introducing new elements. Producer Kenji Kanno stated that the single-player experience will be the main focus, though multiplayer modes will also be included.
Even more games on Steam are using AI: there are over 8,600 demos in this week's Next Fest event, and nearly 1,700…
The Steam Next Fest event features over 8,600 game demos, with nearly 1,700 disclosing the use of AI in their development. This surge in AI-generated content raises concerns about discoverability and the potential for low-quality shovelware flooding the platform, making it harder for players to find genuine gems.
More than a thousand games in Steam Next Fest feature a generative AI disclosure of some kind
Approximately 20 percent of the games featured in the Steam Next Fest event have disclosed the use of generative AI in their development. Valve requires developers to declare AI usage, a policy that has led to clarifications from companies like Sega regarding their use of the technology. Generative AI remains a controversial topic within the gaming community.
Opinion: I'm So Glad Racing Games Are Finally Getting Interesting Again
The author expresses a desire for more diversity in racing games, feeling that the genre has become stagnant with an overabundance of simulations and open-world titles. Recent and upcoming games like Hot Wheels Unleashed, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Screamer, and Clutch are highlighted as examples of the genre diversifying with more arcade-focused, unique, or experimental approaches.
Summer Games Week: The Biggest Reveals, Interviews, And Features
Summer Games Week, the successor to E3, concluded with numerous reveals, interviews, and features from various showcases like State of Play and Summer Game Fest. GameSpot covered a wide array of upcoming titles, including Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Resident Evil: Veronica, and Gears of War: E-Day, providing previews and in-depth articles.
"I look at AI almost like a toddler": OG Halo artist says game devs relying on AI for direction are in for…
Veteran Halo artist Eddie Smith warns game developers against over-reliance on generative AI for creative direction, comparing it to an unmanageable toddler. He argues that AI tools require extensive human oversight and touch-ups, and that foundational creative vision must come from human artists, not AI. Smith's comments come amid ongoing debates about AI's role in game development, citing controversies in titles like Kingdom Hearts 4 and Baldur's Gate 3.
Crazy Taxi: World Tour Announced, Bringing SEGA’s Driving Series Back in 2027
SEGA has announced Crazy Taxi: World Tour, a new installment in the driving action series, set to launch in 2027 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2. Led by original creator Kenji Kanno, the game will feature a story-driven campaign across five cities, new maps, multiplayer modes, and customization options, alongside a classic arcade mode.
