Crazy Taxi runner seeks live band after music blocked at RTA in Japan
The runner behind Crazy Taxi at RTA in Japan Winter 2026 is recruiting a guitarist, bassist and drummer to perform the soundtrack after organizers barred the licensed music.
The runner scheduled to play Crazy Taxi at RTA in Japan Winter 2026 has begun recruiting musicians for a live band to perform the game's background music, according to automaton-media.com. The runner said RTA in Japan organizers told him the game's in-game music cannot be played at the venue or on the stream.
The call went out after RTA in Japan announced the game lineup for the winter event on October 18. The runner is looking for a guitarist, bassist and drummer.
He said a live performance on the day is the ideal outcome, but recording the audio in advance and playing it back is also under consideration. The plan is still being discussed with RTA in Japan organizers and could be cancelled even if band members are found.
Crazy Taxi was released in 2000 as a taxi-driving game for the Dreamcast, and its original soundtrack used songs by bands including The Offspring and Bad Religion. In 2010, remastered versions for Xbox 360 and PS3 replaced all of the songs because of licensing.
There is precedent for the approach: at AGDQ2025 in the US in 2025, a volunteer band live-performed songs such as All I Want because the in-game music could not be used. RTA in Japan Winter 2026 is scheduled to run from December 25 to December 31.
Quick answers
When is RTA in Japan Winter 2026?
The event is scheduled to run from December 25 to December 31.
Which instruments is the Crazy Taxi runner looking for?
A guitarist, bassist and drummer, for a live band to perform the game's music during the run.
Why can't the in-game music be used?
The runner said RTA in Japan organizers told him the game's in-game music cannot be played at the venue or on the stream.