Shifu: Traffic Masters, an indie open-world driving game set in 1990s China, has released a demo on Steam. The game draws inspiration from titles such as Midtown Madness and Driver, offering players a variety of vehicular activities.
Players can engage in activities including hauling cargo with realistic physics, pursuing criminals as a police officer, operating a taxi service, driving a city bus on a schedule, and participating in arcade street races. The game features a city populated by other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists, with dynamic weather conditions affecting vehicle handling. Players are encouraged to explore the city between missions and familiarize themselves with period-accurate vehicles from the 1980s and 1990s, each described as having its own weight and personality.
The developer, solo dev Boxy.Poly, has stated that the game is set in the previous millennium and does not use generative AI for its core mechanics or vehicle "personality." This statement comes amidst a period of increased scrutiny and backlash regarding the use of generative AI in game development, prompting many publishers to revise their Steam disclosures.
Shifu: Traffic Masters supports both Chinese and English languages. A release date has not yet been announced.