Players of the recent release Total War: Pharaoh by Creative Assembly are receiving a refund of one-third of the original purchase price due to the game not meeting the developer's quality standards. Creative Assembly has apologized in a blog post for the shortcomings of the game and the Shadows of Change DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3. As compensation, players who paid 60 euros will automatically receive 20 euros back via Steam. The game's price has also been reduced to 40 euros, with the Deluxe and Dynasty editions removed from sale.
Furthermore, Creative Assembly is planning to release a previously paid DLC package for free early next year, adding more factions and an expanded campaign map. Total War: Warhammer 3's expansion Thrones of Decay, however, is now delayed from the end of this year to April 2024, following additional content for Shadows of Change coming in February 2024.
This refund action and the switch to a free DLC release represent the studio's efforts to make amends following the criticism of the game and DLC quality. Earlier this year, Creative Assembly faced challenges as SEGA, the studio's owner, canceled the multiplayer game Hyenas.
How does the Total War: Pharaoh refund process work?For those eligible, the refund will be processed automatically via Steam, with no further action required from the player. If you purchased Total War: Pharaoh for the original price, you will receive a corresponding part of that cost back as a refund.
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Comments
Creative Assembly's move to issue partial refunds while also flipping upcoming paid DLC to free is a commendable and uncommon response in the industry; it shows they're serious about maintaining the trust and goodwill of the Total War community after a misstep. Meanwhile, delaying Thrones of Decay to ensure its quality could be a sign they're doubling down on getting things right, avoiding the pitfalls that led to the situation with Total War: Pharaoh and its DLC.
Gotta give props to Creative Assembly for owning up and keeping it real with their community; not every studio is ready to hit the refund button like that. Makes you wonder, though, if this trend of releasing unfinished games might just be taking a hit — kind of a wake-up call for quality control in gaming.
It's refreshing to see a developer like Creative Assembly own up to their missteps and offer tangible reparations—it sets a positive example in an industry often criticized for pushing out undercooked titles. The move to provide refunds, paired with free DLCs and a clearly communicated roadmap for future updates, could go a long way in restoring player trust and goodwill towards the Total War series.