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Short answer: the version of Total War: SHOGUN 2 you can buy and the extras you receive now depend on the storefront and on whether you already own the original game. SEGA launched Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition on October 13, 2026. Steam buyers receive the Complete Edition plus the original game and its associated downloadable content except the Blood Pack; purchases from the Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, and GOG include the Complete Edition only. The original game stopped being sold separately on Steam on September 28, 2026.
This guide explains those entitlements, the difference between the two editions, legacy DLC access, the Complete Edition’s Mod.IO support, and the officially documented multiplayer procedures for Steam and Linux. It does not assume that a legacy mod, DLC entitlement, or multiplayer setup transfers between editions or operating systems.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Total War: Shogun 2 | $11.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Total War: Shogun 2 Gold - PC | $28.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Total War: Shogun 2 - PC | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Total War : Shogun 2 | $10.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Shogun 2: Fall of the Samurai, Limited Edition - PC | $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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What is Total War: SHOGUN 2?
Total War: SHOGUN 2 combines a turn-based strategic campaign with real-time land and naval battles. On the campaign map you manage provinces, armies, agents, diplomacy, technology, and resources; battles then resolve on a separate tactical field. The Steam listing describes general and agent skill development, multi-stage sieges, hero units, naval engagements, and a rotating three-dimensional campaign map. Those are publisher and store-listed features rather than independent performance or quality tests.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The key practical distinction in 2026 is between the original, often called the legacy game, and the new Complete Edition. They are separate editions for mod compatibility and have different storefront entitlements. Before buying DLC, installing a mod, or troubleshooting multiplayer, identify which executable and storefront your account uses.
#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
Which edition should you buy?
SEGA’s Complete Edition FAQ gives different contents by storefront. The original game remains available to new Steam customers through the Complete Edition, but it is not included in the same way on every other store.
| Situation | What the official information says | What to check before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| New Steam customer | One purchase includes Complete Edition, the original SHOGUN 2, and associated legacy DLC except the Blood Pack. | Confirm the store page lists the edition you intend to launch and review the DLC entitlements shown on your account. |
| New Epic Games Store customer | Purchase includes Complete Edition only. | Do not assume the original game or the Steam legacy DLC bundle is included. |
| New Microsoft Store customer | Purchase includes Complete Edition only. | Check the Microsoft account’s edition and add-on listing. |
| New GOG customer | Purchase includes Complete Edition only. | Check the GOG product entry for the exact included content. |
| Existing Steam owner | You retain the original game, receive legacy DLC you do not already own at no additional cost, and are eligible for a time-limited 75% loyalty discount on Complete Edition. | Sign in to the account that owns the original and inspect current entitlements and the upgrade offer before paying. |
The loyalty discount is time-limited, so its availability should be verified on your account rather than assumed from an older purchase. Store prices and regional availability can change; the entitlement rules above are the important buying distinction.
What changed on Steam in September and October 2026?
Standalone sales of the original game on Steam ceased on September 28, 2026. Existing owners can continue to play it. New Steam buyers obtain the original through the Complete Edition purchase described above. This change does not turn the original and Complete Edition into one interchangeable installation: SEGA specifically says that mods made for the original are not compatible with Complete Edition.
The Complete Edition launched on October 13, 2026, on Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, and GOG. A purchase on one storefront does not automatically grant a license on another storefront, and the listed contents are not identical across those stores.
Rank #2
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
How do legacy DLC packs work?
Feral’s legacy Steam and Linux documentation identifies these packs for the original game:
- Blood Pack
- Dragon War Battle Pack
- Hattori Clan Pack
- Ikko Ikki Clan Pack
- Otomo Clan Pack
- Rise of the Samurai Campaign
- Saints and Heroes Pack
- Sengoku Jidai Unit Pack
These names describe the legacy DLC catalogue. They should not be used to infer that every pack appears in every Complete Edition storefront bundle. In particular, SEGA’s Steam Complete Edition description excludes the Blood Pack from the included associated DLC.
How do I obtain DLC?
For the legacy Steam game, DLC ownership is handled through the store account. New Steam Complete Edition customers receive the associated legacy content specified by SEGA, while existing Steam owners receive legacy DLC they do not already own at no additional cost. Open your account’s game and downloadable-content listings to confirm an entitlement rather than purchasing a duplicate pack.
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How do I access DLC?
Most legacy DLC is enabled automatically after it is installed. Blood effects are a separate presentation option: launch the legacy game, open Options, and enable the Blood Effects checkbox. Rise of the Samurai is not selected from the standard campaign list; choose it from its own campaign-selection entry. These instructions apply to the legacy game and are not confirmation of how a particular Complete Edition storefront packages or exposes its content.
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
Are original SHOGUN 2 mods compatible with Complete Edition?
No. SEGA says that Complete Edition launches with integrated Mod.IO support, while mods made for the original SHOGUN 2 are not compatible with Complete Edition. Mods for the original game remain unchanged. Treat the editions as separate mod environments:
| Edition | Mod position | Safe assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Original SHOGUN 2 | Existing original-game mods remain associated with that game. | Use instructions written for the original executable and its own workshop or mod files. |
| Complete Edition | Integrated Mod.IO support is included at launch. | Use Complete Edition-compatible uploads and do not copy an original-game mod into its files unless the author explicitly provides a compatible version. |
The official information reviewed does not establish a maintained list of currently compatible mod names or authors. If a mod page does not clearly identify Complete Edition compatibility, assume it is unverified and back up saves before experimenting. A mod that works in the original game can fail to load, corrupt a campaign, or produce a different result in Complete Edition even when its title is identical.
How do I host or join a Steam multiplayer campaign?
Feral documents a two-player campaign flow for the Steam version. Both players should be using compatible versions on the same supported network platform and should have the game installed before starting.
- On the host computer, open Multiplayer from the main menu.
- Choose Multiplayer Campaign, then select Host Campaign.
- Choose the campaign, factions, and other campaign settings.
- Optionally use the invitation control to invite a Steam friend.
- The second player opens the multiplayer campaign list, selects the host’s listed campaign, and joins.
- At battle prompts, each player can choose a battle-resolution option. The host’s Default Battle Resolution setting determines which choice takes precedence when the players select different options.
How do we resume a saved campaign?
Feral’s instructions require the original participants to be present. The player who originally hosted must resume the campaign as host; a different participant cannot take over hosting under that documented procedure. If a participant is missing or the original host is unavailable, create a new session rather than expecting the save to migrate to a new host.
Rank #4
Can Linux players use multiplayer?
Feral’s Linux FAQ documents campaigns through the Local Network list: one player hosts a campaign on the LAN and the other selects it from the local-network campaign list to join. It also states that Linux multiplayer is compatible only between Linux versions. That is an OS-specific limitation, so do not interpret the Linux instructions as proof that a Linux installation can join a Windows or macOS campaign.
The official pages explain how to create and join sessions but do not establish current player counts, matchmaking activity, or connection reliability. If a session does not appear, first verify that both players are using the same operating-system version and the same edition, then check local-network visibility and firewall permissions before changing campaign settings.
What are the PC and Mac requirements?
The Steam listing presents legacy storage and operating-system requirements, not a guarantee of compatibility with every modern computer. It lists approximately 32 GB of storage for Windows, 24 GB for macOS, and 26 GB for Linux, alongside older minimum CPU, graphics, memory, and operating-system specifications. The Steam Client itself supports Windows 10 and later from January 1, 2024, but that client policy should not be confused with a promise that the game’s old minimums cover every current Windows configuration.
- Leave more free disk space than the listed requirement so updates, shader caches, and save backups have room.
- Check the store’s current operating-system and architecture notes for the edition you intend to install.
- Do not use the legacy minimums as evidence that a modern feature, driver, mod, or storefront build is supported.
Mac troubleshooting and support
For an unresolved Mac problem, Feral asks users to collect the exact error message and a Total War SHOGUN 2 Report.txt file. Open the game’s pre-game Options window, switch to the Support tab, generate or locate the report requested there, and include it when contacting Feral. This is a support workflow, not a guaranteed repair; preserve the wording of the error and note which edition and storefront produced it.
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.
Which version fits your situation?
You are buying for the first time
Choose Steam if you specifically want the original game included alongside Complete Edition and the associated legacy DLC listed by SEGA, excluding Blood Pack. Choose another storefront only after confirming that Complete Edition-only content meets your needs.
You already own original SHOGUN 2 on Steam
Open the owning account and verify that the legacy DLC you lack has appeared. Then check whether the time-limited 75% loyalty discount for Complete Edition is available. Keep the original installation if you rely on its mods, because upgrading does not make those mods compatible with Complete Edition.
You depend on a particular original-game mod
Stay with the original edition unless the mod’s author has released and documented a Complete Edition-compatible version. Complete Edition’s Mod.IO integration is a different distribution path, not a compatibility layer for legacy files.
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Match the edition, storefront build, operating system, and network method before troubleshooting. Steam users can follow the host-and-join campaign path; Linux users should use the documented local-network path and pair Linux versions only. Do not promise cross-platform play where the official material does not establish it.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store, or GOG Complete Edition while assuming it includes the original game and the same legacy DLC bundle as Steam.
- Assuming the Blood Pack is part of Steam’s associated DLC inclusion; SEGA explicitly excludes it.
- Installing an original SHOGUN 2 mod into Complete Edition.
- Starting Rise of the Samurai from the wrong campaign menu or expecting every DLC option to require manual activation.
- Trying to resume a multiplayer save with a new host or a player who was not in the original session.
- Using Linux multiplayer instructions as evidence of Windows-to-Linux compatibility.
- Treating old Steam hardware and operating-system minimums as a current compatibility guarantee.
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.
