UPDATE: Creative Assembly has released a retrospective video marking the 25th anniversary of its groundbreaking game, Total War: Shogun, revealing the studio’s unexpected journey from sports games to strategy gaming dominance.
The video highlights how Creative Assembly, once known primarily for sports titles, made a bold pivot that changed its trajectory forever. Former executive producer Mike Simpson recalls joining the company in 1996 with ambitions to develop a role-playing game based on Monkey: Journey to the West. Instead, the team created a “quick and cheerful B-grade RTS” to secure funding for their dream project.
This shift proved pivotal, as Total War: Shogun became a critical and commercial success, establishing the Total War franchise as a cornerstone of the gaming industry. Simpson explained, “We thought we’d make one of those games quickly to give us some funds that we could then use to make the RPG that we really wanted to make.”
The impact of Total War: Shogun cannot be overstated; it led to a series that remains influential today. The developers, including principal creative director Al Hope, utilized their experiences from sports games to enhance the depiction of massive battles in feudal Japan. Hope noted, “We had already built up our experience of putting a large number of characters on the screen, and we were going to take that and really push it further.”
As the gaming landscape has evolved, Creative Assembly has occasionally diversified its portfolio with titles like Alien: Isolation and Viking: Battle for Asgard, but its foundation remains rooted in the success of Total War.
While adaptations of Monkey: Journey to the West have emerged in other forms, enthusiasts continue to hope for a role-playing game from Creative Assembly that reflects their original vision. The retrospective serves not only as a celebration of past achievements but also as a reminder of the studio’s innovative spirit.
As fans reflect on Total War: Shogun‘s legacy, the gaming community is buzzing with anticipation for what Creative Assembly might produce next. With the studio’s proven track record, many are eager to see if they will finally venture into RPG territory once again.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as Creative Assembly continues to shape the future of gaming. For a deeper dive into the making of Total War: Shogun, check out the full retrospective video now.