Creative Assembly Addresses Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition Backlash

Creative Assembly and Sega have officially pulled the Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition from Steam following a wave of player complaints regarding technical issues and the inclusion of AI-generated art. As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, Total War vice president Roger Collum issued a personal apology for the release, clarifying the studio’s involvement and their internal policies regarding generative AI.

Directing the Blame

In a post on the official Total War Reddit, Collum explicitly distanced the core Creative Assembly team from the project, stating, “This was not a Creative Assembly developed game.” He explained that the title was not subjected to the studio’s standard internal quality assurance processes, admitting that they “took our eyes off its external development” while the main team focused on other projects. While Collum did not name the specific partner, the Steam page for the release listed Mataboo Games as a co-developer. Sega and a team of senior developers are currently working with the external partner to determine the next steps for the title.

Stance on Generative AI

Collum addressed growing community concerns regarding the use of AI in their products. He stated that while the studio uses AI for backend tasks like “analysis, debugging, or speedy prototyping,” they maintain a strict policy against using generative AI to create game assets or art. Collum emphasized that this standard is expected of any external partners they work with, and noted that the presence of AI-generated art in the Complete Edition is currently under investigation.

Why it matters

For players, this means the Complete Edition is currently unavailable for purchase while the studio attempts to resolve the technical deficiencies. In the interim, Sega has reinstated the original version of Shogun 2 on Steam to ensure fans can still access the game.

Collum also issued a stern warning against harassing individual developers, stating that the studio will not tolerate the abuse of community teams or designers. He cautioned that if harassment continues, the company may be forced to become less transparent in its future communications with the community. Players should watch for further updates from the studio regarding whether the Complete Edition will receive a significant overhaul or remain off the store permanently.