Editing Creative Assembly (section)

==History==
===Founding (1987–1998)===
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2020}}
Creative Assembly was founded in 1987 by Tim Ansell.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-29-the-untold-origin-story-of-creative-assembly |title=The untold origin story of Creative Assembly |first=Robert |last=Purchese |date=2 October 2017 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031337/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-29-the-untold-origin-story-of-creative-assembly |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|Creative Assembly has cited 18 August 1987<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.creative-assembly.com/blog/interview-cas-studio-director |title=Interview with CA's Studio Director |date=18 August 2020 |website=Creative Assembly |access-date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=23 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123213424/https://www.creative-assembly.com/blog/interview-cas-studio-director |url-status=live }}</ref> and November 1987<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.creative-assembly.co.uk/company.htm |title=Company Info |website=The Creative Assembly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000521193156/http://www.creative-assembly.co.uk/company.htm |archive-date=21 May 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref> as its founding dates.}} Ansell had begun professional [[computer programming]] in 1985, working on video games for the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], and [[Atari 8-bit computers]]. Initially, Ansell kept the company small so he could personally work on computer programming. The company's early work, often produced personally by Ansell, involved porting games from the [[Amiga]] to [[MS-DOS]], such as the 1989 titles [[Geoff Crammond|Geoff Crammond's]] ''[[Stunt Car Racer]]'' and ''[[Shadow of the Beast (1989 video game)|Shadow of the Beast]]'' by [[Psygnosis]]. Creative Assembly began work with [[Electronic Arts]] in 1993, producing titles under the [[EA Sports]] label, starting with the DOS version of the early ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]'' games. With EA Sports,  Creative Assembly was able to produce low development risk products bearing official league endorsements. The company's products included [[Rugby World Cup]] titles for 1995 and 2001, the game for the [[1999 Cricket World Cup]] and the [[Australian Football League]] games for 1998 and 1999, of which the ''AFL 98'' title was particularly successful in the Australian market. When it became clear that the company needed to expand further, Ansell employed Michael Simpson in 1996 as the creative director. Simpson, a [[integrated circuit|microchip]] designer turned video game designer, later became the driving force for the creative design of the ''Total War'' series. Ansell left Creative Assembly after Sega acquired the developer in 2005. Later, Tim Heaton took over as the company’s studio director.

===Early ''Total War'' titles (1999–2004)===
As a result of their success in sports titles, by 1999 Creative Assembly had sufficient resources and backing from Electronic Arts to develop more high risk titles in other genres. The result was ''[[Shogun: Total War]]'', the company's breakthrough title. A blend of [[real-time tactics]] and [[turn-based strategy|turn-based]] gameplay, ''Shogun: Total War'' was announced in early 1999. The game focused the [[Sengoku period]] of Japanese feudal history, and upon its release in June 2000 it was met with critical acclaim. The game won multiple industry awards and became regarded as one of the benchmark strategy video games.<ref name="awards" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/shoguntotalwar |title=''Shogun: Total War'' (PC: 2000) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=23 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923081103/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/shoguntotalwar |url-status=live }}</ref> Inhouse composer [[Jeff van Dyck]] won both a [[BAFTA]] and an [[Ethnic Multicultural Media Academy|EMMA]] award for his work on the game's soundtrack.<ref name="awards">{{cite web |url=http://rometotalwar.com/?page_id=11 |title=Awards |publisher=The Creative Assembly |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-date=24 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224234445/http://rometotalwar.com/?page_id=11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 2001, Creative Assembly announced ''[[Shogun: Total War#Expansions and sequels|The Mongol Invasion]]'', an [[expansion pack]] focusing on the earlier [[Mongol invasions of Japan]]. Released in August 2001, the expansion pack also received a positive response.

Soon after, Creative Assembly broke away from Electronic Arts, instead using [[Activision]] as a publisher and distributor. In August 2001, Creative Assembly announced a second ''Total War'', set in the [[Middle Ages]]. ''[[Medieval: Total War]]'' was of a larger scope than ''Shogun: Total War'', spanning a larger time period and the entirety of Medieval Europe. Released in August 2002, the game was a greater success than ''Shogun: Total War'', becoming the best-selling video game in the UK for the first two weeks, and the fourth best-selling game in the US market in its first week. As with ''Shogun: Total War'', ''Medieval: Total War'' won multiple industry awards, and was named the top game of 2002 by ''[[PC Gamer]]''.<ref>"Top 100", ''[[PC Gamer UK]]'': 2002</ref> Creative Assembly was awarded the "PC Game Developer of the Year" award at the 2003 [[European Computer Trade Show]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/02/ects-2003-best-of-year-awards |title=ECTS 2003: Best of Year Awards |website=IGN |date=2 September 2003 |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-date=30 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830014351/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/02/ects-2003-best-of-year-awards |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Medieval: Total War#Expansions and versions|Viking Invasion]]'', an expansion pack focusing on the [[Invasions of the British Isles#Viking raids and invasions|Viking invasion of Britain]] in the [[Early Middle Ages|Dark Ages]], was released in May 2003.

A third ''Total War'' title was announced in January 2003. Entitled ''[[Rome: Total War]]'', the game featured a new [[game engine]] to ''Shogun: Total War'' and ''Medieval: Total War'', and redesigned the approach to the series. Set during the late [[Roman Republic]] and preliminary decades of the [[Roman Empire]], the game's code was used for two television shows: the [[BBC Television|BBC's]] ''[[Time Commanders]]''<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7045018.stm |title=Machinima waits to go mainstream |first=Peter |last=Price |date=16 October 2007 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-date=21 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021024215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7045018.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel's]] ''[[Decisive Battles]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/21/history-channels-decisive-battles |title=History Channel's Decisive Battles |website=IGN |date=21 July 2004 |first=Steve |last=Butts |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-date=19 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219175417/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/21/history-channels-decisive-battles |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon release in September 2004, the game was given praise, becoming one of the year's top ten best-selling titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6116992&mode=all |title=NPD full-year PC tally nets hat trick for Activision |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=24 January 2005 |access-date=3 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306185423/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6116992&mode=all |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Buyout and later games (2005–2016)===
Despite speculation that Activision might buy Creative Assembly, as the publisher had done with previous successful developers under its wing,<ref name="acquisition">{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6120096&mode=all |title=Sega conquers The Creative Assembly |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |date=9 March 2005 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306183949/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6120096&mode=all |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Japanese company [[Sega]] announced on 9 March 2005 that they had sealed an acquisition deal with Creative Assembly,<ref name="acquisition" /> purchasing all issued [[Share (finance)|shares]] in the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/09/gdc-2005-sega-gets-creative |title=GDC 2005: SEGA Gets Creative |website=IGN |first=Jeremy |last=Dunham |date=8 March 2005 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030122700/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/09/gdc-2005-sega-gets-creative |url-status=live }}</ref> Sega explained that the acquisition was to strengthen Sega Europe's presence in the European and North American video game markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/09/sega-buys-the-creative-assembly |title=SEGA Buys The Creative Assembly |website=IGN |first=David |last=Adams |date=9 March 2005 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802224730/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/09/sega-buys-the-creative-assembly |url-status=live }}</ref> All preceding titles in the ''Total War'' series had been exclusively [[PC game|computer games]]. By July 2005, Sega had acquired the publishing rights to ''Rome: Total War'' from Activision,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6128505&mode=all |title=Sega Secures Publishing Rights to Rome: Total War Expansion |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=1 July 2005 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306180741/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/news.html?sid=6128505&mode=all |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and built on the brand strategy by releasing two expansion packs: ''[[Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion|Barbarian Invasion]]'' in September 2005 and ''[[Rome: Total War: Alexander|Alexander]]'' in September 2006. ''[[Spartan: Total Warrior]]'' was released in October 2005 on [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[PlayStation 2]] and [[GameCube]], receiving a mixed reception from critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/spartantotalwarrior |title=''Spartan: Total Warrior'' (Xbox: 2005) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015050505/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/spartantotalwarrior |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/spartantotalwarrior |title=''Spartan: Total Warrior'' (PS2: 2005) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=28 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928153041/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/spartantotalwarrior |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/spartantotalwarrior |title=''Spartan: Total Warrior'' (Cube: 2005) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=23 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923092401/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/spartantotalwarrior |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''[[Medieval II: Total War]]'', the fourth title in the franchise, was announced in January 2006 and developed by the Australian branch of Creative Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/20/total-war-goes-medieval-again |title=Total War Goes Medieval Again |website=IGN |first=Wade |last=Steel |date=20 January 2006 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=22 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322154114/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/20/total-war-goes-medieval-again |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/another-sega-studio-bites-the-dust-470581183 |title=Another Sega Studio Bites The Dust |date=4 April 2013 |access-date=26 June 2022 |website=[[Kotaku]] |last=Plunkett |first=Luke |archive-date=26 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626110457/https://kotaku.com/another-sega-studio-bites-the-dust-470581183 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was a remake of the earlier ''Medieval: Total War'' using the new assets and technology behind ''Rome: Total War''. The game was released in November 2006, and although not as successful as ''Rome: Total War'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/medieval-ii-total-war/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=''Medieval II: Total War'' (PC: 2006) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=18 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818111959/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/medieval-ii-total-war |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Medieval II: Total War'' was still a critical and commercial hit, holding a place in the UK games charts in November 2006,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/news.html?sid=6161632&mode=all |title=UK game charts: November 5–11 |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Emma |last=Boyes |date=15 November 2006 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306172412/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/news.html?sid=6161632&mode=all |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in the US charts until the end of January 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/news.html?sid=6165564&mode=all |title=PC game charts: January 21–27 |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=8 February 2007 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306181807/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/medieval2totalwar/news.html?sid=6165564&mode=all |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> An expansion pack, ''[[Medieval II: Total War: Kingdoms|Kingdoms]]'', was announced in March 2007. The expansion received a positive reception from critics upon release in August 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/medieval2totalwarkingdoms?q=Medieval%20II |title=''Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms'' (PC: 2007) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=6 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306021730/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/medieval2totalwarkingdoms?q=Medieval%20II |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the [[Games Convention]] in August 2007, Creative Assembly announced new titles. The first, ''[[Viking: Battle for Asgard]]'', was a console-exclusive title, similar in style to ''Spartan: Total Warrior'', but focusing on [[Norse mythology]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/vikingbattleforasgard/news.html?page=1&sid=6177050 |title=Viking officially pillaging PS3, 360 |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |date=21 August 2007 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306173336/http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/vikingbattleforasgard/news.html?page=1&sid=6177050 |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The game was released in March 2008. It received an average reception from critics in the industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/vikingbattleforasgard |title=''Viking: Battle for Asgard'' (PS3: 2008) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=22 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022152333/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/vikingbattleforasgard |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/vikingbattleforasgard |title=''Viking: Battle for Asgard'' (Xbox 360: 2008) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-date=22 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022163351/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/vikingbattleforasgard |url-status=live }}</ref> The second title was a fifth ''Total War'' instalment, ''[[Empire: Total War]]'', set in the [[early modern period]] of the 18th century and early 19th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6177198&mode=all |title=Sega waging new ''Total War'' |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Tom |last=Magrino |date=21 August 2007 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219221807/http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/empiretotalwar/news.html?sid=6177198&mode=all |archive-date=19 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As was the case with ''Rome: Total War'', ''Empire: Total War'' features a redesigned approach to the series and a new game engine. It was released in March 2009, receiving high praise,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/empiretotalwar |title=''Empire: Total War'' (PC:2009) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=8 April 2009 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606001713/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/empire-total-war |url-status=live }}</ref> selling double the number of units sold of ''Medieval II: Total War'' and ''Rome: Total War''. However, numerous significant issues were pointed out by critics after the release. Though there were numerous patches, not all of these were addressed by the abandonment of support for the game, which caused many to question Sega's influence on Creative Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/45324/Empire-Total-War-Breaks-U-K-Sales-Records |title=''Empire: Total War'' Breaks U.K. Sales Records |website=[[Gamasutra]] |date=10 March 2009 |first=Andrew |last=Burnes |access-date=19 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408084331/http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/45324/Empire-Total-War-Breaks-U-K-Sales-Records |archive-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> In July 2008, Creative Assembly announced ''[[Stormrise]]''. Unlike previous historically-based games, ''Stormrise'' is a [[science fiction]] [[real-time strategy]] game developed for both consoles and PC, released in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/strategy/stormrise/news.html?sid=6193595&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures;title;2 |title=Creative Assembly building console RTS |website=[[GameSpot]] |first=Tom |last=Magrino |date=10 July 2008 |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306172419/http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/strategy/stormrise/news.html?sid=6193595&om_act=convert&om_clk=newsfeatures&tag=newsfeatures%3Btitle%3B2 |archive-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Stormrise'' received negative and mediocre responses, with criticisms focusing on broken pathfinding and the game's flawed control scheme (designed with the intent to create an easy interface for consoles).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/stormrise |title=''Stormrise'' (PS3: 2009) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=19 April 2009 |archive-date=24 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324065923/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/stormrise |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/stormrise |title=''Stormrise'' (Xbox 360: 2009) |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=19 April 2009 |archive-date=27 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327112404/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/stormrise |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2009, Creative Assembly was joined by Tim Heaton, who serves as the company's [[studio director]].<ref name="final boss">{{cite magazine |title=The Final Boss |magazine=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]] |issue=942 |date=December 2018 |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |page=70}}</ref>

The Australian branch of the Creative Assembly ported the first three ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (series)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' games and the ''[[Sonic & Knuckles]]'' lock-on games to ''[[Sonic Classic Collection]]''. This compilation received overall positive reviews from ''Aussie-Nintendo'' and ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'', but criticised some speed issues when playing, rarely speeding up or slowing down and some graphical and sound glitches. Reviewers also criticised the removal of multiplayer in the games, previously available in earlier versions of the games. In 2010, the company released ''[[Napoleon: Total War]]'', based on the exploits of [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] to generally favourable reviews that praised the tightly scripted elements of a smaller, more focussed campaign than its globe-spanning predecessor, ''Empire Total War''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/18/napoleon-total-war-review |title=Napoleon Total War Review |author=Steve Butts |work=[[IGN]] |date=18 December 2010 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=17 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217043704/http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/02/18/napoleon-total-war-review? |url-status=live }}</ref> The company released ''[[Total War: Shogun 2]]'' in 2011, to universal acclaim.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/total-war-shogun-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Total War: Shogun 2 for PC Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic.com |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-date=19 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419144806/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/total-war-shogun-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> The title is the first to make the brand ''Total War'' the main title, in an effort to increase brand awareness.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/hands-on-shogun-2%E2%80%99s-siege-battles-2/ |title=Hands on: Shogun 2's siege battles |work=[[PC Gamer]] |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=28 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722091643/http://www.pcgamer.com/previews/hands-on-shogun-2%e2%80%99s-siege-battles-2/ |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 6 December 2012, a partnership between [[Games Workshop]] and Creative Assembly was announced. Also announced was the creation of a new ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' game. On 5 April 2013, it was announced that Sega Studios Australia (formerly known as The Creative Assembly Australia) will be shut down later in the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-04-05-sega-to-shut-down-medieval-2-total-war-developer-sega-studios-australia |title=Sega to shut down Medieval 2: Total War developer Sega Studios Australia |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=5 April 2013 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=5 April 2013 |archive-date=8 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408011426/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-04-05-sega-to-shut-down-medieval-2-total-war-developer-sega-studios-australia |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 September 2013, Creative Assembly released ''[[Total War: Rome II]]''. The game uses an updated Warscape engine and suffered from technical issues shortly after release which eventually led to Creative Assembly's creative director, Mike Simpson, apologising publicly for the widespread technical issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/uk/2013/09/09/total-war-rome-2-creative-director-launch-issues-are-totally-unacceptable/ |title=Total War: Rome 2 creative director: launch issues are "totally unacceptable" |author=Ian Birnbaum |work=[[PC Gamer]] |date=3 September 2013 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=20 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820161609/http://www.pcgamer.com/uk/2013/09/09/total-war-rome-2-creative-director-launch-issues-are-totally-unacceptable/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the ten months following release, Creative Assembly released fourteen patches for the game, solving most technical issues and balancing gameplay. As of July 2014, the game currently stands at a rating of 76/100 on Metacritic by critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/total-war-rome-ii/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Total War: Rome II for PC reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208100748/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/total-war-rome-ii |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Alien: Isolation]]'' is a first person stealth horror game based on the film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/07/09/alien-isolation-reunites-original-cast-of-alien-but-only-as-pre-order-dlc/ |title='Alien: Isolation' Reunites Original Cast Of 'Alien' But Only As Pre-Order DLC |author=Erik Kain |work=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] |date=7 September 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=3 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303190946/http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2014/07/09/alien-isolation-reunites-original-cast-of-alien-but-only-as-pre-order-dlc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The game was released on 7 October 2014 for PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/alien_isolation/news/alien_isolation_release_date_set_for_october_7.html |title=Alien: Isolation release date set for October 7 |author=David Scammell |work=VideoGamer.com |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=31 January 2015 |archive-date=14 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414061550/http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/alien_isolation/news/alien_isolation_release_date_set_for_october_7.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, the company released the game ''[[Total War: Warhammer]]'', which was the first game in a trilogy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/total-war-warhammer-just-start-new-strategy-trilogy/ |title=Total War: Warhammer is just the start of a new strategy trilogy |first=Conner |last=Shreidan |work=[[GamesRadar]] |date=22 April 2015 |access-date=4 June 2015 |archive-date=5 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205192205/https://www.gamesradar.com/total-war-warhammer-just-start-new-strategy-trilogy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Expansion (2017–present)===
In February 2017, the studio released ''[[Halo Wars 2]]'', which received positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/halo-wars-2/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Halo Wars 2 |website=Metacritic |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305205530/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/halo-wars-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> In March 2017 Creative Assembly announced the acquisition of Crytek Black Sea, which was shut down in December 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/crytek-eliminates-five-studios-after-struggling-to-pay-employees/ |title=Crytek eliminates five studios after struggling to pay employees |work=pcgamer |access-date=7 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307210339/http://www.pcgamer.com/crytek-eliminates-five-studios-after-struggling-to-pay-employees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the first studio opened by Creative Assembly abroad. The studio has been renamed to [[Creative Assembly Sofia]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/creative-assembly-acquires-arena-of-fate-developer-crytek-black-sea/ |title=Creative Assembly acquires Arena of Fate developer Crytek Black Sea |work=pcgamer |access-date=7 March 2017 |language=en |archive-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307130956/http://www.pcgamer.com/creative-assembly-acquires-arena-of-fate-developer-crytek-black-sea/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2017, the studio released the second game in the ''[[Warhammer Fantasy (setting)|Warhammer Fantasy]]'' series, ''[[Total War: Warhammer II]]''. In May 2018, Creative Assembly then went on to release the ''[[Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia|Thrones of Britannia]]'', the first in its Saga Series. In February 2019, Creative Assembly announced the cancellation of ''[[Total War: Arena]]''.

''[[Total War: Three Kingdoms]]'' has been released as of 23 May 2019, and received positive reviews.''[[Total War: Warhammer III]]'' was released on 17 February 2022.

On 28 September 2023, Sega announced it was cancelling ''[[Hyenas (video game)|Hyenas]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Notice regarding Implementation of Structural Reforms in the Consumer Area (Entertainment Contents Business) |url=https://www.segasammy.co.jp/en/release/41079/ |access-date=3 March 2024 |website=SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hyenas Canceled">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/sega-cancels-creative-assemblys-hyenas |title=Sega Cancels Creative Assembly's Hyenas |work=[[IGN]] |date=28 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928124419/https://www.ign.com/articles/sega-cancels-creative-assemblys-hyenas |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result of the cancellation, an unknown number of employees were laid off from Creative Assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Tom |date=28 September 2023 |title=Sega cancels Creative Assembly's Hyenas |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/sega-has-cancelled-hyenas |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=Eurogamer.net |language=en}}</ref> In March 2024, Sega announced it would cut 240 roles across [[Sega Europe]], Creative Assembly and [[Hardlight|Sega HARDlight]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=2024-03-28 |title=Sega sells Relic and will cut 240 jobs across UK studios |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sega-sells-relic-and-will-cut-240-jobs-across-uk-studios |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>