Sega is suspending sales of 'Total War: SHOGUN 2 - Complete Edition', released on October 13, just two days after launch. The decision comes following severe player backlash over bugs, performance issues, and graphical quality that emerged immediately after release.
On October 15, Sega and Creative Assembly admitted through official channels that "the Complete Edition has fallen short of both player expectations and our own standards," conceding that the game's current state is unsatisfactory. As a result, they plan to work with platform holders to temporarily suspend sales while investigating the root causes of the issues. Players who have already purchased the game will still be able to play it.
'Total War: SHOGUN 2 - Complete Edition' is an updated version of the 2011 strategy game 'Total War: SHOGUN 2', tailored for modern PC environments. It features 64-bit support, 1440p and 4K UI scaling, DLSS and FSR support, improved graphics and lighting, and adds over 50 minor factions as playable factions. Official Korean text support was also included.
However, reception immediately following launch went sharply south. Complaints mounted over lingering bugs from the original game, along with new bugs, performance degradation, and UI and graphical quality issues. User reviews on Steam also sat at 'Overwhelmingly Negative' right up until the sales suspension announcement.
In particular, newly reworked 2D artwork became the epicenter of controversy. Players singled out instances where fingers or gear on unit cards appeared distorted, sparking allegations that generative AI or AI-based upscaling was used. Sega and Creative Assembly made no mention of whether AI was used in their sales suspension announcement.
The backlash also spread to sales policies regarding the original game. Upon launching the Complete Edition, Sega delisted the original 2011 release of 'Total War: SHOGUN 2', preventing new purchases. As a result, new buyers were forced to purchase the Complete Edition, exacerbating player outcry when quality issues with the new release emerged.
Ultimately, Sega decided to suspend sales of the Complete Edition while bringing back the original 'Total War: SHOGUN 2' for sale. The development team stated that they are working with their development partners to identify the root causes of the current issues and make improvements, ensuring the Complete Edition reaches the quality standards expected of the 'Total War' series. They are also working with platform holders on measures to extend the refund window for buyers.
However, no timeframe was disclosed for when the Complete Edition will return to stores. Modernized after 15 years, 'Total War: SHOGUN 2' was pulled from storefronts just two days after release to undergo further overhaul.
