Sega pulled Total War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition after users found bugs and apparent AI upscaling
Sega pulled the recently launched Complete Edition of Total War: Shogun 2 after users found bugs and upscaling that seemed to be done by AI. The remaster was made in part by an unnamed external developer. Creative Assembly said it is investigating. Its VP of Total War, Roger Collum, said the studio does not use generative AI to create game assets and demands the same of external developers.
What the AI did
Some of the game's visuals appear to have been upscaled (enlarged and sharpened) by AI, though this has not been confirmed. It has not been reported which AI tool was used or who used it, but the remaster was made in part by an unnamed external developer.
First reported October 26, 2026 · Added to the register November 3, 2026 · 1 source
- When it happened
- Not stated in the sources
- First reported
- October 26, 2026
What this means for you
Could this affect you?
If you outsource creative or content work to external developers. Buyers of the Shogun 2 Complete Edition received a buggy product with apparent AI-upscaled assets, and any organisation relying on outside developers could ship undisclosed AI content that conflicts with its own policies.
What to check
- Write AI-use restrictions into contracts with outsourced developers and vendors.
- Check vendor deliverables for undisclosed AI-generated or AI-upscaled content before release.
Areas of your AI programme this touches
Every fact and its source (6)
- ResponseSega pulled the Complete Edition“Sega recently pulled the recently-launched Complete Edition of the game”[1]
- Issue foundBugs and upscaling seemingly done by AI“after users found bugs and upscaling seemingly done by AI”[1]
- ProductionMade in part by an external developer“which was made in part by an external developer”[1]
- Studio policyCreative Assembly says it does not use generative AI for game assets“At Creative Assembly we do not use generative AI to create game assets, including AI-generated art”[1]
- Vendor requirementSame demand made of external developers“We demand the same of any external developers we work with.”[1]
- Affected productTotal War: Shogun 2 Complete Edition“the AI-botched Shogun 2 remaster”[1]
Sources
- Total War studio says they are "investigating" the AI-botched Shogun 2 remaster.theverge.com · October 26, 2026
How this record is classified. Severity M (2/5): harm to individuals, or a policy breach with limited reach. OECD level: incident, an event in which an AI system led to actual harm. Evidence: Reported, meaning press reporting only.
The facts in At a glance and in Every fact and its source are quoted from the sources listed. The summary, What the AI did and What this means for you are written from those sources and checked against them automatically before publication. Records reflect what has been disclosed, not everything that has happened. Incidents are found through news feeds and the GDELT Project.
