Sega pulls Total War: Shogun 2 update from sale after troubled launch

Sega has announced it is removing Total War: Shogun 2 - Complete Edition from digital storefronts. The decision follows a troubled launch where players reported numerous issues, including bugs and concerns that graphical upgrades and upscaling may have been generated using artificial intelligence.

The Complete Edition, a remastered version of the 2011 strategy game, was released on Tuesday. It bundled the original game with all its downloadable content (DLC) and promised enhancements such as "improved visuals," "1440p and 4K UI scaling," and modernized controls. The game has received an "Overwhelmingly Negative" user rating on Steam, where it has already been delisted. Posts on Reddit highlight artwork that users believe has been negatively impacted by AI processes.

Sega has acknowledged the issues and stated that it is investigating the problems. The company has not provided a specific timeline for when, or if, the game will be made available for purchase again in a corrected state. The unsuccessful launch could impact Sega's reputation in the strategy game market.

The Total War series is known for its blend of turn-based campaign management and large-scale real-time battles. The original Total War: Shogun 2 was released in 2011 to critical acclaim, making the recent issues with the Complete Edition particularly disappointing for its fanbase.