Initially, Creative Assembly agreed "the current experience is not where it needs to be" and would be investigating the matter. Now, in an update shared on Steam, the UK studio has distanced itself from the project and placed a lot of the blame on an unnamed external development partner.
"I get many of you are angry and disappointed about the state of the Shogun 2: Complete Edition release. We are too—especially the team members who have put everything into Total War games for years, some even decades," reads the post.
"This was not a Creative Assembly developed game. It wasn’t subject to our same internal reviews and quality assurance. We took our eyes off its external development, with all our teams focused on our next big projects. However, whatever the development arrangements, Total War is our franchise and our name is on it."
The only other developer listed on the Steam page for Shogun 2-Complete Edition is Mataboo, a Polish co-development studio that has worked on projects like TheBlood of Dawnwalker and Gotham Knights.
Again, Creative Assembly doesn't call out Mataboo by name in its latest update, but said it has pulled together a small team of developers who will now work with publisher Sega and the "external developer" to find a resolution.
The studio also took the opportunity to outline its stance on generative AI, noting that while it might use the technology for some tasks—analysis, debugging, or prototyping—it does not believe in a world where "technology replaces the creativity of humans."
"At Creative Assembly we do not use generative AI to create game assets, including AI-generated art. We demand the same of any external developers we work with. The situation with Shogun 2: Complete Edition is being investigated," added the company.
"We use AI tools where they help our craftspeople do their best work, as part of a continual evolution of how we use tools and technology in an evolving and competitive space."
It's evident from the over 2,000 'Overwhelmingly Negative' Steam reviews that players have been left reeling, but Creative Assembly reminded its community to ensure that valid criticism doesn't morph into harassment.
"I understand your anger, but don’t direct that to individuals on our teams. Our community teams, QA, designers, and everyone in between are doing their job, as asked by the company. Their safety is our priority. They do not deserve, and we will not tolerate, harassment or being singled out online and personally criticised," the post continues.
"As a team, we want to be transparent with our communications as much as possible, but that cannot be at the expense of the safety of our people. Please help keep Total War’s community spaces constructive and safe for everyone."
Chris is an award-winning reporter with over a decade of experience covering the video game industry. He was formerly news editor at Game Developer and is currently the founder and editor of this resplendent website.
