Sega making ‘big-budget’ Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio reboots

Sega is reportedly developing “big-budget” reboots of its Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio franchises, according to Bloomberg, as the company seeks to create a global hit. The projects are reportedly components of Sega’s so-called Super Game Initiative, a plan that parent company Sega Sammy unveiled in 2021.

Sega’s Super Game Initiative is the company’s strategy to develop “new and innovative titles” with a focus on global reach, online interactivity, community building, and IP utilization, Sega said in November, when it announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to use its Azure cloud platform. Sega stated in May 2021 that it intended to use its portfolio of IP for remakes. Remasters. and reboots. Sega cited games like Jet Set Radio and Crazy Taxi as examples for revitalization. Space Channel 5, Rez. Panzer Dragoon. Nights. Shinobi. Virtua Fighter.

Bloomberg reports that Crazy Taxi is up first, and Jet Set Radio is the second; this new report comes from Bloomberg Crazy TaxiIt is currently in development for a year and will be released within the next two or three years.

Sega has over the years remastered and remade its Dreamcast-era properties. Both Crazy TaxiAnd Jet Set Radio were included in Sega’s 2011 Dreamcast Collection, and Sega has attempted multiple Crazy Taxi spinoffs for mobile devices, including 2017’s Crazy Taxi Tycoon (née Crazy Taxi Gazillionaire(also known as ), is a sim/idle business management game. Sega also has outsourced many IP revivals including Streets of Rage 4., Panzer Dragoon: Remake, Alex Kidd, Miracle World DXAnd The House of the Dead RemakeTo independent developers.

Sega has plans beyond games to transform its gaming franchises into live action movies. Sega plans to adapt IP such as Streets of Rage and Yakuza for the big screen following the success of Sonic the Hedgehog’s film franchise.