Total War: Shogun 2 Remaster faces intense backlash following Steam delisting

Total War: Shogun 2 – Complete Edition has launched to a wave of harsh criticism from the community. According to a GamesRadar+ report, the new version currently holds an ‘overwhelmingly negative’ rating on Steam, with only 19% of the 677 reviews being positive at the time of writing.

Concerns over AI art and performance

Players are pointing to a variety of technical and aesthetic failures in the remaster. The most prominent complaint involves the use of AI-upscaled art, which critics claim has resulted in distorted character models. Examples cited include a warrior on horseback whose facial features have been rendered unrecognizable, alongside new artwork displaying common AI generation errors, such as characters with six-fingered hands.

Beyond the visuals, the community has reported significant performance issues. Many players claim the remaster runs worse than both the original title and more recent games in the Total War series. Furthermore, the release is reportedly plagued by both new glitches and long-standing bugs that were present in the original version.

Delisting of the original game

Adding to the frustration is the decision by the developers to delist the original Total War: Shogun 2 from the Steam store. While existing owners retain the ability to download and play the original game, new players are now forced to purchase the $10 Complete Edition. As noted by GamesRadar+, one Steam reviewer described the move as “literally the greed they talk about in the Bible,” reflecting the broader sentiment of players who feel the remaster acts as a compromised replacement for the classic title.

Why it matters

For players, the primary impact is the loss of official access to the original, well-regarded version of the game. The forced transition to a remaster that users describe as buggy and visually degraded represents a significant barrier for those looking to experience the series for the first time.

With the original title removed, players are currently left with the Complete Edition as the only official point of entry on Steam. Whether the developers will address the reported performance woes or restore access to the original version remains the key issue for the community to watch.