Shogun 2 pulled from sale after hidden AI use, Sega admits

Creative Assembly has launched an investigation

The removal comes amid an internal investigation into the edition, which Creative Assembly says was developed externally and did not go through its normal quality-assurance procedures. 

Roger Collum, vice-president of the Total War franchise, addressed the situation in a post on Reddit, admitting that the team had failed to monitor the project closely enough.

Collum said attention had shifted towards the developer's other major projects, leaving the external work without the level of supervision it should have received.

“We took our eyes off its external development, with all our teams focused on our next big projects,” he wrote.

The company has not publicly named the external studio involved in the Reddit statement. 

However, GamesIndustry.biz reported that Steam credits Warsaw-based Mataboo Games as a co-developer of the edition. 

The studio's previous work includes Gotham Knights, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Tchia.

Total War developer insists its games are made by people, not AI

Beyond the immediate investigation, the incident has prompted Creative Assembly to restate its stance on generative AI, particularly when it comes to producing artwork and other game assets.

Collum described Creative Assembly as a studio built around the skills of its developers, making clear that AI-generated content does not fit its current approach to creating games.

“We are a craft studio,” he wrote. “Our games are made by incredibly talented people, and we do not believe in a world where technology replaces the creativity of humans.”

“We do not use generative AI to create game assets, including AI-generated art,” Collum added.

'AI should support, not replace'

The investigation into Shogun 2 – Complete Edition has not yet concluded.

According to Collum, a small team of senior developers is now working with Sega and the external studio to establish what happens next. 

The game will remain off sale until those discussions and the ongoing work have progressed.

Collum also stressed that the situation would not lead to a change in the company's overall philosophy on AI. 

He drew a distinction between using technology as a tool for developers and allowing it to take over the creative work itself.

“AI can support the creator,” he wrote. “It shouldn't replace the creator.”