Sega is opening sign-ups for a closed network test of Crazy Taxi: World Tour, marking the first hands-on opportunity for the upcoming reboot’s competitive multiplayer mode. The limited trial will run across PC through Steam and the Xbox app, alongside PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with a single window scheduled from 11th September through 13th September.
A Multiplayer First for the Franchise
Putting Crazy Taxi players head-to-head is a notable pivot for a series that built its reputation on solitary arcade runs. The original cabinet asked one driver to weave through traffic, scoop up fares, and beat the clock, and that competitive instinct stayed dormant through the Dreamcast, PS2, and GameCube eras. A networked test suggests Sega is treating World Tour as more than a nostalgia piece, layering a live-service-style foundation underneath the franchise’s signature mayhem.
For retro arcade enthusiasts, the closed trial also functions as a checkpoint on how much of the original spirit Sega intends to preserve. Crazy Taxi lived or died on twitchy steering, aggressive shortcuts, and the dopamine hit of a perfectly timed drop-off bonus. Whether the new build can keep those tactile thrills intact while supporting multiple drivers on one map will likely determine whether longtime fans read World Tour as a genuine revival or a familiar wrapper dressed up for the current market.
From 1999 Arcade Hit to Modern Multiplayer
The Crazy Taxi name traces back to 1999, when Sega’s Hitmaker studio rolled out the original cabinet in Japanese game centers. It quickly became a marquee attraction, and a Dreamcast port arrived as a U.S. launch-window release, helping shape the early identity of Sega’s final home console. The game’s appeal rested on three pillars: time-attack fare delivery, a punk-leaning licensed soundtrack featuring The Offspring and Bad Religion, and a roster of loud, memorable cabbies led by Axel.
Subsequent ports to PS2 and GameCube extended the franchise’s footprint, and a free-to-play mobile entry later introduced the IP to a new generation. Even so, the core cabinet formula has remained influential, cited by indie developers as inspiration for titles that blend arcade scoring, open-city driving, and music-licensed adrenaline. World Tour’s September test arrives against that backdrop, giving the first wave of players a chance to measure how far the franchise has traveled from its quarter-munching roots.
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Source: Eurogamer