iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Yes—if your Steam account already owns the original Total War: SHOGUN 2, you can still install and play it. Sign in to the owning account, open Steam Library, select the original game entry, and click Install. The standalone store sale ended at the time announced by SEGA, but that delisting did not remove an existing license. If you never owned the original, SEGA identifies Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition as the official purchase route; check its live store listing before paying because availability, price, region and activation details can change.
The original and Complete Edition should be treated as separate installation and mod paths. Steam Workshop mods made for the original are not compatible with the Complete Edition’s integrated Mod.io support. The rest of this guide explains which edition you have, how to install the correct one, what happens to DLC, and what to do when the game is missing from your library.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Total War: Shogun 2 | $11.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Total War: Shogun 2 Gold - PC | $28.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Total War: Shogun 2 - PC | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Total War : Shogun 2 | $10.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai, Limited Edition - PC | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
What the delisting changed—and what it did not
SEGA’s Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition FAQs announced that the original game would stop being sold as a standalone Steam purchase on 28 September 2026 at 17:00 BST / 16:00 UTC. That date concerns new standalone sales. It is not an instruction for existing owners to uninstall the game, and it does not turn a previously redeemed Steam license into a trial.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11SEGA’s stated position for existing Steam owners is that the original remains playable and that owners receive any DLC they did not already have at no charge. The same FAQ says the original remains on Steam. A SEGA and Creative Assembly Steam Community announcement separately says existing owners will still be able to access and play the game.
#1 Best Overall
- Choose from 9 different clans and compete online and offline for the undisputed supremacy of Medieval Japan
- Play through the Main Campaign in single player or invite a friend online to play competitively or cooperatively in Campaign Multiplayer mode
- Developed according to Sun Tzu's principles in the Art of War, the Artificial Intelligence constantly analyzes its situation
- Build and govern cities, recruit and train troops, conduct diplomacy and manage your agents
- Improved land and naval battle gameplay, now with the ability to combine forces and attacks
The newer package is Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition. SEGA’s product information gives it a 13 October 2026 release date and describes it as a PC release for Steam, the Epic Games Store and Windows. It contains the original game and its DLC. Store availability has been in flux: the community announcement said SEGA and Creative Assembly were working with platform holders to remove the Complete Edition from sale and reinstate the original while investigating reported issues. Check the current official Steam and SEGA listings immediately before a new purchase.
| Date or status | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| 1 January 2024 | Steam’s listing states that the Steam client supports Windows 10 and later from this date. This is a client requirement, not a guarantee that every old game runs perfectly on every supported PC. |
| 28 September 2026, 17:00 BST / 16:00 UTC | SEGA’s announced cutoff for selling the original as a standalone Steam purchase. |
| 13 October 2026 | SEGA Creative Assembly’s product-page release date for the Complete Edition. |
| Current store status | May change while platform holders process the Complete Edition and the original listing. Verify the live listing rather than relying on an old search result or third-party key page. |
Choose the right route before touching the install button
If you bought or redeemed the original
Use the Steam account that made the purchase or redeemed the key. Search your Library for the original title, Total War: SHOGUN 2, rather than searching only the Complete Edition’s store page. A store page disappearing is not evidence that the library license disappeared.
If you never owned the original
SEGA’s official replacement path is the Complete Edition. It is described as containing the original game plus its DLC, but the actual purchase page, price, regional availability and activation rules are retail details that can change. Confirm the edition name, platform and seller on the live Steam or Epic listing before checkout.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Keep the editions conceptually separate
Do not assume that installing the Complete Edition will automatically recreate the original’s mod environment. The original uses its established Steam Workshop ecosystem. SEGA says those original mods remain unchanged, while the Complete Edition uses integrated Mod.io support and is not compatible with mods made for the original.
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
| Question | Original Total War: SHOGUN 2 | Complete Edition |
|---|---|---|
| How do I obtain it? | An existing Steam license in your Library; the standalone sale was scheduled to end on 28 September 2026. | SEGA’s identified route for a player who never owned the original, subject to the current store listing. |
| What is included? | Your existing game license. SEGA says current Steam owners receive DLC they do not already own for free. | SEGA says the package contains the original game and its DLC. |
| Mod ecosystem | Original Steam Workshop mods remain unchanged. | Integrated Mod.io support; original-game mods are not compatible. |
| Stores and platforms | Steam library access for existing owners; the original listing’s legacy builds include Windows, macOS and Linux. | SEGA describes a PC release for Steam, Epic Games Store and Windows. Check the live listing for the edition you are buying. |
| Performance and bugs | No controlled benchmark is established here. Use the original listing’s requirements as a baseline and apply normal driver and client updates. | No controlled benchmark is established here. Reported issues were being investigated when the platform-status announcement was published. |
| Refund or license terms | SEGA’s FAQ addresses continued access, not a special delisting refund policy. | Specific purchase and refund terms are not stated in the cited SEGA FAQ; read the store’s terms for your region. |
Install the original from your Steam Library
- Sign in to the owning account. Open the Steam client and verify the account shown in the account menu is the one that bought or redeemed Total War: SHOGUN 2. Family members’ accounts, a second email address or a newly created account will not show the same license.
- Open Library. Use the Library search field and type Total War: SHOGUN 2. Select the original library entry, not an advert for the Complete Edition or a similarly named downloadable item.
- Remove view filters. If the title does not appear, clear platform, installed-only and collection filters. Also inspect Steam’s hidden-games view. A hidden entry can look like a missing license until it is returned to the normal Library view.
- Start the installation. On the original game’s Library page, click Install. Choose the Steam library drive and folder you want to use, review the displayed disk-space requirement, and confirm.
- Wait for Steam to finish. Keep the client online until the download and file allocation complete. If you pause the download, resume it from Steam’s Downloads view before launching.
- Launch the original entry. Click Play from the same Library page. Check the title shown in the launch window so you do not accidentally start a separate Complete Edition installation.
- Check downloadable content. Open the game’s DLC panel in Steam after installation. SEGA says current Steam owners are granted DLC they do not already own for free; the panel is where you can confirm which items are installed or enabled.
- Add mods only after a clean launch. Start an unmodded campaign or the main menu once. This separates an installation problem from a Workshop mod problem and gives you a known-good baseline.
If the original is missing from Library
Work through the checks in order; do not assume that the delisting itself deleted your entitlement.
- Verify the account. Compare the signed-in Steam account with the account used for the original purchase, key redemption or earlier installation.
- Check hidden games and filters. Clear Library filters, search the complete title and inspect hidden games.
- Restart Steam. Exit the client fully, reopen it, let it synchronize, and search again. This refreshes the local Library view without changing your license.
- Look for a different library drive. If the game was installed on another drive, Steam may show an existing installation only after that library folder is mounted and recognized.
- Use Steam Support’s Total War: SHOGUN 2 product page. Choose the account, purchase or key-help route that matches your problem. Support can investigate a missing license; a third-party download cannot restore one legitimately.
Do not use unofficial cracks, repacks or license workarounds. They can contain altered executables, break Steam features and create a separate security and save-file problem.
What happens to DLC after the standalone sale ends?
SEGA’s FAQ makes a specific promise to current Steam owners: they receive any DLC they do not already own for free. That is an entitlement attached to the existing Steam ownership described by SEGA, not a reason to download an unofficial bundle.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →After the base game is installed, open its Steam DLC panel and check each item. A DLC entry may be listed but not yet downloaded; enable installation, allow Steam to update the game, and restart the client if the status does not refresh. If the DLC still does not appear, record the account and product details and use Steam Support’s product page rather than buying a duplicate key.
Rank #3
- Choose from 9 different clans and compete on and offline for the undisputed supremacy of Medieval Japan. Gain experience to level up your own character-warlord as well as your generals and agents.
- Play through the Main Campaign in single player or invite a friend online to play competitively or cooperatively in Campaign Multiplayer mode.
- Developed according to Sun Tzu's principles in the Art of War, the Artificial Intelligence constantly analyzes its situation and reacts to your every move with greater precision and variety.
- A streamlined User Interface makes management of your kingdom much easier. Build and govern cities, recruit and train troops, conduct diplomacy and manage your agents - each feature is now introduced with comprehensive tutorials
The Complete Edition is a different ownership route: SEGA says it bundles the original game and its DLC for new purchasers. Confirm the current edition contents on the live store page, particularly if a listing has changed while SEGA and platform holders process the transition.
Mods: keep the original Workshop setup separate
Original game
SEGA says mods for the original Total War: SHOGUN 2 remain unchanged. If your campaign depends on Steam Workshop content, launch the original Library entry and manage those subscriptions there. Keep a record of your load order before changing editions or troubleshooting.
Complete Edition
SEGA describes integrated Mod.io support for the Complete Edition. Original-game mods are not compatible with that environment. A mod that worked in the original can therefore fail to load, produce missing assets or prevent startup when copied into the newer edition.
Safe migration practice
- Make a clean, unmodded launch of the edition you intend to play.
- Keep original Workshop subscriptions and any manually archived files in a separate folder from Complete Edition files.
- Re-enable mods one at a time, starting with the version explicitly identified for your edition.
- If the game stops launching, disable the last mod and retest before changing drivers or deleting saves.
Do not interpret a mod failure as proof that the base game license or installation is invalid; the two editions use different mod ecosystems.
Rank #4
Platform and PC requirements
Steam’s published material lists legacy Windows, macOS and Linux builds for the original and provides older hardware requirements. Those figures are a baseline for the legacy build, not a current performance guarantee. Steam also states that its client supports Windows 10 and later from 1 January 2024. If your operating system is older, the client itself may be the blocker before the game starts.
- Install current graphics drivers for your operating system.
- Leave enough free storage for Steam’s displayed download and installation requirement, plus temporary update space.
- Keep the Steam client updated so Library synchronization and DLC entitlement checks work normally.
- If you are considering the Complete Edition, read that edition’s current store requirements separately; they may differ from the original’s legacy listing.
No controlled performance benchmark is established for either edition here. Expect results to depend on operating system, driver version, hardware, resolution, mods and the edition actually being launched.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying the Complete Edition when you never owned Shogun 2
- Find the official listing. Search for the full name, Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition, on the store you plan to use.
- Confirm platform and seller. SEGA identifies PC availability through Steam, the Epic Games Store and Windows. Make sure the listing is for PC and that the seller is the platform operator or an authorized retailer.
- Read the live contents list. SEGA says the package includes the original game and its DLC. Compare that wording with the page currently offered in your region.
- Check activation details. Region, account binding, DRM and redemption requirements are volatile retail facts. Verify them before payment, especially for a third-party key.
- Install the edition shown in your purchase library. If the original standalone entry is unavailable to new buyers, do not expect a separate original license to appear unless the store explicitly grants one as part of the Complete Edition.
Because SEGA and Creative Assembly announced work with platform holders to remove the Complete Edition from sale and reinstate the original while reported issues were investigated, a page that is unavailable today may return or change. Treat the current official listing as authoritative for the moment you buy.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTroubleshooting by symptom
The Install button is absent
Confirm that you are in the original Library entry and signed into the owning account. Clear filters, inspect hidden games and restart Steam. If the license still does not appear, use Steam Support’s Total War: SHOGUN 2 product page.
Best Value
- The American, British and French nations played an important part in the story of the Boshin war and your relations with these foreign powers will be integral to unit recruitment and to advancing your technology trees.
- Thirty nine new land units, including modern ranged units - such as the Gatling gun and Armstrong gun - controllable in a new third-person mode.
- New port siege battle type, this new battle type triggers when attempting a naval assault on an occupied enemy port. The attacking fleet must sail into the harbour and capture the port, running the gauntlet of coastal gun defences.
- New land and sea unit interactions, during a land battle, armies can call in offshore artillery support barrages.
- Campaign map bombardments: offshore naval units can bombard armies and cities in adjacent coastal areas on the campaign map itself.
Steam launches the wrong edition
Return to Library and read the full product name above the Play button. Pin or create a shortcut for the original entry, and remove ambiguity from desktop shortcuts that point to an old executable. Do not copy Complete Edition files over the original installation.
DLC is listed but unavailable in game
Open the Steam DLC panel, enable the item and let Steam complete any pending download. Restart Steam and the game. If the entitlement remains absent for the account covered by SEGA’s FAQ, provide Steam Support with the product and account details.
A Workshop mod breaks startup
Disable the newest or most recently changed mod and launch the original without modifications. Original Workshop content belongs with the original edition; do not expect it to work in the Complete Edition’s Mod.io environment.
The game will not start after a client or driver update
Confirm that Steam itself runs on a supported operating system, especially Windows 10 or later under Steam’s stated client cutoff. Update the graphics driver, restart the PC and test an unmodded launch. If the Complete Edition is involved, compare its current store requirements rather than relying on the original’s legacy requirements.
The store page changes or disappears again
Use the official SEGA and platform listings for the latest status. Do not infer a license change from a temporary store-page error, and do not replace a missing listing with an unofficial download.
Quick Recap
Final checklist
- Use the Steam account that owns the original.
- Search Library for the original Total War: SHOGUN 2 entry.
- Install from Library, then verify the DLC panel.
- Keep original Steam Workshop mods separate from the Complete Edition’s Mod.io environment.
- Use Steam Support if the entitlement is missing.
- If you never owned the game, verify the current Complete Edition listing, region, seller and activation terms before purchase.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
