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Sega and developer Creative Assembly have officially withdrawn Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition from sale. The publisher has reinstated the original 2011 version of the title in digital storefronts following significant community backlash regarding the quality of the new release.
The Complete Edition, which launched on October 13, faced criticism for technical bugs and performance issues. Players specifically highlighted visual distortions, such as characters appearing with extra fingers or faces merging into helmets, which many attributed to the use of artificial intelligence for upscaling assets. Additionally, users reported a cumbersome user interface and the persistence of legacy software errors from the original game.
While Sega has not confirmed the use of AI in the illustrations, the controversy has impacted the game's reception. According to GameSpot, over 81% of Steam reviewers advised against purchasing the title at the time of publication. The Complete Edition was previously priced at 40 dollars, with a 10 dollar upgrade path available for existing owners of the classic version.
This incident highlights ongoing industry scrutiny regarding Sega's use of generative AI, following reports of its application in other projects like Crazy Taxi: World Tour. Sega is currently working with its development partner to investigate the reported issues, while Creative Assembly continues its work on other titles, including Total War: Warhammer III.
