Editing Creative Assembly (section)

===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>