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
Short answer: New Steam buyers should generally choose Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition because it is now the supported purchase that bundles the original game and its major DLC, while adding modern display, control, localization and faction features. Existing owners who value the original Workshop mod ecosystem or launch-tested stability should keep playing the 2011 build for now. Complete Edition is not a separate historical sequel; it is SEGA’s updated and enhanced PC version of SHOGUN 2, and its most important trade-off is that original-game mods do not work with it.
What is being compared?
The “remake” in this comparison is officially called Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition. SEGA describes it as an updated and enhanced version of Total War: SHOGUN 2 and all of its downloadable content, developed for PC by MATABOO, Creative Assembly and SEGA. It is therefore better understood as a modernized edition of the 2011 historical grand-strategy game than as a ground-up remake with a new campaign or radically different rules.
| # | 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 |
The original is the 2011 release set during Japan’s Sengoku Jidai. Complete Edition keeps that game, adds the major standalone campaigns and downloadable content, and changes parts of the technology stack, presentation, controls and mod delivery. Your best choice depends less on the word “remake” than on whether you prioritize compatibility and the established mod scene or newer platform features.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Original vs Complete Edition at a glance
| Area | Original Total War: SHOGUN 2 | Complete Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Core game | 2011 Sengoku Jidai campaign | Original campaign included in the same Steam purchase |
| Other campaigns | Available through legacy DLC ownership | Includes Rise of the Samurai and Fall of the Samurai |
| Historical scope | Primarily the Sengoku period unless DLC is owned | Three campaigns covering more than 700 years of Japanese history |
| Graphics and display | Original lighting, shadows, textures and interface scaling | Improved lighting, shadows and textures; 1440p and 4K UI scaling; ultrawide support |
| Controls and accessibility | Original control design | Modernized controls and colorblind accessibility options |
| Language support | Original release options | Japanese and Chinese voice acting plus full-text localization |
| Factions | Original faction roster and DLC additions | More than 50 newly playable minor factions, according to SEGA |
| Architecture | Original 32-bit build | 64-bit upgrade |
| Mods | Original Workshop ecosystem remains available | Integrated Mod.io support; original-game mods are incompatible |
| Steam availability | Existing owners can continue playing; standalone sales ended on 28 September 2026 | Current Steam purchase path; original game is bundled |
| Launch price | Standalone purchase no longer offered on Steam after 28 September 2026 | £34.99 / €39.99 / $39.99 at launch |
What Complete Edition actually adds
Modern graphics and high-resolution displays
Complete Edition revises lighting, shadows and textures rather than replacing the game with a new visual engine. It also adds interface scaling for 1440p and 4K monitors. The launch announcement lists ultrawide-monitor support, which matters if the original interface leaves menus or strategic information cramped on a wide display. These changes are presentation and usability upgrades; they do not establish that the new build runs faster on every computer.
#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
Controls, languages and accessibility
The edition modernizes controls and adds Japanese and Chinese voice acting with full-text localization. It also includes colorblind accessibility options. If you want to play with Japanese or Chinese spoken dialogue, use a current high-resolution monitor, or need color differentiation settings, these are features available only in Complete Edition.
More playable minor factions
SEGA says the edition adds more than 50 newly playable minor factions. That expands the campaign choices beyond the original roster, but the figure is a publisher count rather than a promise that every faction has a completely unique campaign tree, technology system or unit roster. Treat it as a large increase in playable starting positions and political options, not as 50 entirely new games.
A 64-bit build
Complete Edition upgrades the game to 64-bit. That change is intended to make the title fit modern PC software and memory environments better than the original 32-bit build. It is not a published benchmark result: no controlled test in the available reporting proves that Complete Edition delivers a specific frame-rate, loading-time or stability gain on a particular PC.
Integrated Mod.io support
The new edition uses integrated Mod.io support instead of the original mod delivery arrangement. This is a structural change, not an optional compatibility layer. SEGA explicitly states that mods made for the original Total War: SHOGUN 2 are not compatible with Complete Edition.
Campaigns and downloadable content
Complete Edition is designed as a package of three standalone campaigns:
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
| Campaign | Historical setting | What it contributes |
|---|---|---|
| SHOGUN 2 | Sengoku Jidai | The original unification-era grand campaign and its real-time battles |
| Rise of the Samurai | Genpei War, beginning in 1175 | A much earlier political and military setting |
| Fall of the Samurai | Boshin War | The clash between traditional forces and industrialization |
SEGA describes these as spanning more than 700 years of Japanese history. The bundle also includes the associated SHOGUN 2 downloadable content on Steam, with one age-rating exception: the Blood Pack is excluded. If you specifically want that gore-focused add-on, check the entitlement and rating rules for your region rather than assuming “Complete” includes every item ever released.
Mod compatibility is the decisive trade-off
If your priority is the existing Workshop library
Stay with the original build. Existing original-game mods remain unchanged, and campaigns, overhauls, unit packs and interface tweaks made for that version continue to target its original files and distribution system. Complete Edition does not import those subscriptions automatically.
If you are willing to rebuild your mod list
Complete Edition may be worthwhile for its new factions, display support and localization, but you should expect a separate mod setup. Look for versions explicitly marked for Complete Edition in its integrated Mod.io catalogue. Do not copy an old mod folder into the new installation and assume it will work: the edition change can affect dependencies, load order and file paths.
What happens to an existing installation?
Owning Complete Edition does not erase the original game. Steam owners retain the original playable build, so you can keep a stable modded installation while trying the new edition separately. Save files and mod configurations should be treated as edition-specific; maintain backups before switching campaigns or removing a large overhaul.
Ownership, storefronts and pricing
Steam
On Steam, buying Complete Edition includes the original Total War: SHOGUN 2 and its associated downloadable content, excluding Blood Pack because of age ratings. Existing Steam owners keep their original copy and receive missing legacy DLC free. SEGA’s support information lists a limited-time 75% loyalty discount for existing owners, ending 12 November 2026.
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 listed launch prices for Complete Edition were £34.99 in the United Kingdom, €39.99 in euro pricing and $39.99 in US pricing. These are launch figures, not a guarantee of the current price, regional tax treatment or future sale pricing. Check the store page before purchasing.
Other PC storefronts
Purchases through the Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store and GOG include Complete Edition only. They do not provide the same entitlement path as an existing Steam owner who already has the 2011 game. If you own the original on another storefront, verify whether your saves, DLC licenses and preferred mods are tied to that platform before changing editions.
Can you still buy the original?
SEGA said the original would stop being sold as a standalone Steam purchase on 28 September 2026. It remains playable for people who already own it, and new Steam buyers receive it inside Complete Edition. This means the practical new-buyer choice on Steam is no longer “old game or new game” as two separate products; it is whether to buy the current bundle and then launch either included build.
Technical stability and launch reception
Launch coverage was sharply negative, but the figures are snapshots rather than controlled performance tests. GamesRadar reported 19% positive among 677 Steam reviews in its launch-day snapshot. Windows Central later reported more than 1,850 reviews and an “Overwhelmingly Negative” rating for Complete Edition. Complaints included performance, bugs, lighting, HDR and other graphical problems.
By contrast, Windows Central’s snapshot of the 2011 original showed more than 22,000 Steam reviews with a “Very Positive” rating. Both scores can change as more players review the games, and neither rating predicts how either build will behave on your specific hardware, operating system, monitor or mod list. There is no independent controlled benchmark in the available reporting that establishes one edition as universally faster.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #4
What to check before buying Complete Edition
- Read the current Steam reviews rather than relying only on launch-week numbers.
- Check recent patch notes for fixes affecting HDR, ultrawide displays, lighting, crashes and mod loading.
- Confirm that your graphics driver and operating system meet the current requirements.
- Decide whether losing access to your original mods would disrupt an ongoing campaign.
- Keep the original installation available if you are an existing owner and stability is more important than new features.
Which version should each type of player choose?
New Steam buyer
Choose Complete Edition if you want the supported purchase path, all three major campaigns, the original game in the same library entry, modern display and control features, and the expanded minor-faction roster. Before launching a long campaign, review the current player feedback and update history because the release had substantial technical complaints.
Existing Steam owner who values stability
Start with the original build. You already retain access to it, and its long-established configuration avoids forcing a move to Mod.io. Consider Complete Edition later if updates resolve the launch problems or if its 64-bit architecture, localization, ultrawide support, accessibility options and added factions solve a problem you actually have.
Dedicated mod user
Keep the original as your primary installation. Complete Edition is appropriate only if you are prepared to replace or rebuild your mod list with Complete Edition-compatible projects. A mod that works perfectly in the 2011 build should be presumed unusable in the new edition unless its creator provides a separate compatible release.
Player using an ultrawide or 4K monitor
Complete Edition has the stronger feature set because it lists ultrawide support and 1440p/4K interface scaling. Test menus, campaign-map readability and battle performance during a refund-eligible period rather than assuming every display issue is solved by the feature label.
Recommended Free Tools
Player who wants earlier or later Japanese history
Choose Complete Edition if you want Rise of the Samurai’s Genpei War setting or Fall of the Samurai’s Boshin War and industrialization conflict without assembling legacy DLC separately. The original remains sufficient if you only intend to play the Sengoku Jidai campaign and already own the content you need.
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.
Player buying through Epic, Microsoft Store or GOG
These storefronts provide Complete Edition only. Your decision is therefore whether its feature set and mod transition are acceptable, not whether to select the standalone 2011 product on that platform.
How to switch safely if you already own the original
- Back up saves and configuration files. Copy your campaign saves and note your graphics, control and mod settings before installing the new edition.
- Record your current mod list. Write down Workshop subscriptions, load order and any required compatibility patches. This gives you a recovery checklist if you return to the original.
- Install Complete Edition separately where possible. Avoid deleting the original build; Steam ownership allows both versions to remain available.
- Launch once without mods. Confirm that the game reaches the main menu, detects your monitor correctly and displays the campaign interface at your chosen resolution.
- Add only Complete Edition-compatible mods. Use the integrated Mod.io catalogue and add projects one at a time so a bad dependency is identifiable.
- Test a short campaign. Play through the opening turns and one battle before committing to a long save. Check HDR, lighting, UI scaling, ultrawide framing and save/load behavior.
- Return to the original for legacy campaigns. If a favorite overhaul or save is not supported, launch the original build rather than attempting to force the files into Complete Edition.
Common problems and practical fixes
“My old mod is missing”
This is expected when the mod was built for the original edition. Search for a Complete Edition version in Mod.io, contact the mod author through the project page, or continue that campaign in the original build.
“The game looks washed out or too bright”
Launch reports specifically mentioned lighting and HDR complaints. Test HDR off and on, verify the monitor’s own HDR mode, update graphics drivers and check whether a recent patch changes the issue. If the original build looks correct on the same hardware, keep using it while waiting for a documented fix.
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 errors“My ultrawide display still has an interface problem”
Confirm that the game is using the monitor’s native aspect ratio and that UI scaling is set for your resolution. Capture the exact resolution, aspect ratio and affected menu when reporting the problem; “ultrawide support” does not mean every third-party overlay or mod has been adapted.
“My old save will not load”
Do not overwrite the original save. Disable mods, verify that you are launching the same edition that created the save, and restore the backup. A save dependent on an original-only mod should be opened in the original build unless the mod author confirms a migration path.
“I bought on another storefront and expected the original too”
Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store and GOG listings include Complete Edition only. The bundled-original entitlement described for Steam should not be assumed to transfer between storefront accounts.
Final recommendation
Complete Edition is the better default purchase for a new Steam player who wants one package containing SHOGUN 2, Rise of the Samurai, Fall of the Samurai and the major DLC, plus modern display, control, language, accessibility and faction additions. The original remains the better playing environment for an existing owner whose priorities are a proven mod library and avoiding the technical issues reported at launch. Because Steam buyers can retain the original build, the safest strategy for existing owners is to treat Complete Edition as an optional second installation, not an urgent replacement.
Quick Recap
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.
