SEGA removes Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from stores after two days

SEGA has withdrawn the Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition from PC digital storefronts approximately two days following its October 13 release. The decision follows a wave of negative reception, with VideoCardz reporting that roughly 81% of Steam reviews were unfavorable. In place of the remastered title, the original 2011 version is once again available for purchase. Users who had already bought the new edition retain access to play it.

Performance and technical failures

The remaster, developed by Studio MATABOO in collaboration with series creator Creative Assembly, was marketed with promises of enhanced visuals, modern screen scaling, and over 50 additional factions. However, player reports indicate the game launched with new bugs alongside existing ones. Performance emerged as the primary complaint; reviewers noted frame rates dropping to 30-40 fps at 4K resolution on an RTX 5090, Nvidia’s highest-tier consumer graphics card. Systems equipped with a Core i9-14900K processor and an RTX 4090 also struggled, achieving only around 30 fps.

Artistic quality and mod support changes

Visual assets drew significant criticism for apparent AI upscaling artifacts, including character models displaying six fingers and merged facial features. Dot Esports highlighted that the store page did not disclose the use of AI technology. Additionally, support for Steam Workshop mods has been removed, replaced by Mod.io, a separate platform for hosting modifications. The new edition was priced approximately $10 higher than the original, which SEGA had delisted at launch. Existing owners received a temporary 75% discount. This move echoes previous instances where SEGA pulled older titles, such as Sonic Origins, leading to initial skepticism among players.

Official statement and refund options

In a statement posted on X, SEGA acknowledged that the game "fell short of expectations and our own standards." The company requested removal from Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the Microsoft Store while working with its development partner to identify the root causes. Some fans have linked these issues to SEGA’s 2024 decision to outsource quality assurance and localization, a move reported by PC Gamer to have resulted in 61 job losses, though no direct causal link has been established. SEGA has not announced specific refund policies or a relaunch date. On Steam, standard refund rules apply within 14 days of purchase if playtime is under two hours. Players in the UK and US may pursue this option immediately rather than waiting for patches. Those who avoided the remaster can repurchase the original version and continue using their Workshop mods.