An updated version named San Francisco Rush The Rock: Alcatraz Edition was later released with more tracks and cars.

[4] The 3dfx hardware was cheaper to develop for than proprietary systems, and Atari used the savings to sell the game at a lower price to arcade operators.

[6] After originally looking at maps of San Francisco, knowing that the cars would be going 150–160 mph, they realized that they would instead have to craft an alternate version of the city that was more 'fun'.

San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing was planned to be ported to the Game Boy Color, but the project was cancelled.

"[25] Critics widely applauded the game's numerous hidden shortcuts,[19][21][23][25][33] exhilarating and unrealistically high jumps,[19][23][25][33] and inclusion of a multiplayer mode with a solid frame rate.

[21][23][25][33] GamePro remarked, "Never mind your heart - the death-defying leaps will make you leave your stomach in San Francisco.

GamePro, which gave the game a 4.5 out of 5 for fun factor and graphics but a 3.0 for control, said "The analog stick just isn't responsive, and there's no way to power slide.

"[33] John Ricciardi and Crispin Boyer of Electronic Gaming Monthly both found the brakes so ineffectual that they had to put the car in reverse to handle turns, while Rickards said the control takes getting used to but ultimately works.

[19][21] Critics almost unanimously said the Nintendo 64 port satisfactorily emulated the arcade version,[19][21][25][33] and praised the added console-exclusive content.

[19][23][25][33] However, GameSpot concluded that while the port was as faithful as it could be given the limitations of consumer hardware, it could not fully recreate the feel that sitting in the arcade cabinet gave.

The reviewer particularly noted how the additional secrets and the removal of the need to insert quarters more strongly encourages the player to explore.

[23] Reviewing the PlayStation version, French magazine Player One praised the better steering when it comes to sharp turns, but criticized the graphics.

[27] Spanish magazine PlanetStation praised the jumps, speed, music, and multiple game modes, but criticized the graphics that are inconsistent with the framerate, and the minimal distinction between the playable cars.