Sega and Creative Assembly have taken Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition off sale on PC, two days after it launched on October 13. The remaster of the 2011 strategy game is gone from Steam, the Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store, and the companies say they will "reinstate the original game while we investigate the issues."
That sentence also tells you where the original had gone.
Here's the joint statement in full, posted October 15:
We're aware that Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition has fallen short of both your expectations and our own standards. We've seen your feedback, comments, and reviews. We agree that the current experience is not where it needs to be.
As a result we are working with platform holders to remove the game from sale and to reinstate the original game while we investigate the issues. Existing owners will still be able to access and play the game.
We 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.
What went wrong
The Complete Edition promised a 64-bit upgrade, "improved visuals," updated lighting and textures, 1440p and 4K UI scaling, modernized controls, Japanese and Chinese voice acting and new playable factions. It shipped with every DLC bundled in, and Sega's own product page offered existing owners the DLC free plus a 75% loyalty discount.
Players found long-standing bugs still present, new ones added, and upscaled art that looked like it had been through an AI retouch. Polygon reports Steam reviews reached "Overwhelmingly Negative" at 17% positive, with the two most popular user tags being "Artificial Intelligence" and "Psychological Horror." Neither is a genre Creative Assembly was going for.
Porting studio Mataboo is listed as co-developer. The statement refers to "our development partner" without naming anyone. Sega hasn't said whether the AI-looking assets will be replaced, and the Steam listing didn't disclose AI use.
Reader questions
Can I still play it? Yes. If you bought the Complete Edition, it stays in your library and keeps working. This delisting stops new sales only.
Can I get a refund? Sega hasn't announced a refund program. Steam's standard policy still applies: purchases under 14 days old with less than two hours played can be refunded through Steam Support. Since the game launched October 13, that window is open for early buyers until about October 27. Epic and Microsoft use their own policies.
Can I buy the original Shogun 2? As of Friday morning, the 2011 original's Steam page lists it at $29.99. Sega's statement doesn't say whether both versions will be sold side by side once the Complete Edition returns.
Is the Complete Edition coming back? Sega and Creative Assembly say they're working on "improvements," with no date. Pulling the remaster and restoring the original suggests they expect the fix to take a while.
Bottom line
Credit where due, the retreat was fast. It launched Tuesday and was pulled Thursday, which by Total War standards is a very short campaign. Owners keep the Complete Edition, the 2011 original is buyable again, and there's no return date for the remaster.
Sources
- Delisted Games — Sega's Total War: Shogun 2 update delisted on PC after two days (SEGA / Creative Assembly statement, Oct. 15, 2026)
- SEGA Japan — Total War: SHOGUN 2 Complete Edition product page
- Polygon — Controversial Total War remaster being delisted from Steam after AI allegations
- The Verge — Sega pulls Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from sale following disastrous launch
- Steam — Total War: SHOGUN 2 (2011) store page
Published Oct 16, 2026. Based on the Oct. 15 SEGA / Creative Assembly statement and SEGA Japan product page, with Polygon, The Verge and Delisted Games reporting. Game artwork © Creative Assembly / SEGA; Steam store assets for app 201270 used editorially only.