Sega pulls Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from sale after disastrous launch
Sega is taking Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition off storefronts. The remaster of the 2011 strategy game launched on Tuesday, and users quickly complained about bugs and about upscaling that appears to have been done by AI. On Steam the game has already been pulled.
Complete Edition bundled the main game with all of its DLC and promised upgrades including "improved visuals," "1440p and 4K UI scaling," and modernized controls. It ended up with an "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating on Steam. Posts on Reddit showcase artwork that users believe AI messed up. That is a user belief; the companies have not said AI was used.
Sega and developer Creative Assembly responded with a joint post saying that Complete Edition "has fallen short of both your expectations and our own standards." They added: "We've seen your feedback, comments, and reviews. We agree that the current experience is not where it needs to be."
The two companies say they will "reinstate the original game," and that existing owners will "still be able to access" Complete Edition. They also say they are "working closely with our development partner to identify the causes of these problems, deliver improvements, and ensure Shogun 2 - Complete Edition meets the quality standards players expect from Total War."
A studio called Mataboo is also listed as a developer for the game on Steam, and Mataboo highlights its work on the game on its website.
Key facts
- Sega is removing Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition, a remaster of the 2011 strategy game, from storefronts; it has already been pulled on Steam.
- The remaster launched on Tuesday with promised upgrades including "improved visuals," "1440p and 4K UI scaling," and modernized controls, bundled with the main game and all DLC.
- Users complained of bugs and upscaling that appears to have been done by AI; Steam shows an "Overwhelmingly Negative" rating.
- Sega and Creative Assembly admit the release fell short, promise to "reinstate the original game," and say existing owners will still be able to access Complete Edition.
- The companies say they are working with a development partner to find the causes and deliver improvements; Mataboo is also listed as a developer on Steam.
Why it matters
Sega is pulling a remaster soon after launch, and the cause is public backlash over quality. The complaints include artwork that players believe was damaged by AI upscaling, which ties the episode to a wider argument about AI-assisted remasters. The companies' own statement concedes the game missed their standards.
Who it affects
Players who bought Complete Edition, who are told they can still access it. Players who wanted the original Total War: Shogun 2, which Sega and Creative Assembly say they will reinstate. Sega, Creative Assembly and the development partner they say they are working with, plus Mataboo, which is also listed as a developer on Steam.
How to use it
Complete Edition is being removed from storefronts and has already been pulled on Steam, so new purchases are not possible there. Existing owners will "still be able to access" it. The original game is to be reinstated.
How solid is it
The removal and the apology rest on a joint statement from Sega and Creative Assembly, quoted by The Verge. The AI angle is softer: the report says only that the upscaling "appears" to have been done by AI and that users "believe" AI messed up the artwork. Sega and Creative Assembly do not confirm AI use in the quoted statement.
Risks and caveats
No calendar date is given, only that the launch was on Tuesday. No timescale is given for reinstating the original game or for any improvements. The report does not say whether Mataboo is the "development partner" named in the statement. Which storefronts besides Steam are affected is not specified. No price, refund policy or sales figures are given.
“We’ve seen your feedback, comments, and reviews. We agree that the current experience is not where it needs to be.”
— Sega and Creative Assembly, joint post