Sega pulls Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from sale after launch problems
Sega and Creative Assembly removed Complete Edition from sale, plan to restore the original game and will keep current owners’ access.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Sega and Creative Assembly have removed Total War: Shogun 2 — Complete Edition from sale after a troubled launch. The Total War Shogun 2 remaster pulled from storefronts had drawn player complaints about bugs and problems with its visual upscaling, while the companies acknowledged that the release did not meet their standards.
The companies said they will restore the original version of the game and that people who already own Complete Edition will continue to have access. They said they are working with a development partner to determine what went wrong and make improvements.
Why was the Total War: Shogun 2 remaster pulled from sale?
In a statement reported by The Verge, Sega and Creative Assembly said Complete Edition had fallen short of both player expectations and the companies’ own standards. They said the current version was not yet at the required level.
Players reported bugs after the launch and raised concerns about the quality of updated art and image scaling. Some users said artwork appeared to show artifacts they associated with AI-based upscaling, according to The Verge and GameSpot. Neither Sega nor Creative Assembly confirmed in the cited statements that AI or an AI upscaler had been used.
What was included in Complete Edition?
Complete Edition is a remastered release of the 2011 strategy game, combining the main game with its downloadable content. It was promoted with improved visuals, user-interface scaling for 1440p and 4K displays, and updated controls, The Verge reported.
GameSpot reported that the release went on sale on October 13. It was subsequently removed while Sega and Creative Assembly review the issues.
What happens to owners and the original game?
Existing owners will retain access to Complete Edition during the delisting, the companies said. Sega and Creative Assembly also said they will reinstate the original game, though they gave no timetable for further updates or a return of Complete Edition to sale.
The companies said their goal is to identify the causes of the launch problems, deliver improvements and bring the remaster up to the quality level players expect from the Total War series.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.