- Stronghold 4 Release Date Reveal Round-up! - 13 October 2026
Such excellent tidings, Sire - Stronghold 4 is on the horizon and fast approaching!As part of the Triple-I Initiative, Firefly Studios is excited to announce that Stronghold 4, the highly anticipated prequel to the original 2001 classic ‘castle sim’, launches into Steam on December 7th! Alongside this, a brand new demo featuring Free Build on our largest ever map, a powerful new late-game unit called The Captain, a new defensive tool in the form of moats, as well as wool and weaving production chains is now available for all to play! Whether you’re inspired by the likes of Minas Tirith or Kaer Morhen, build your desired citadel section by section and behold its full glory in peace – or pit it against enemy incursions and witness how your creation endures the pressure.This demo will arrive in two parts: it's available today with Free Build, and will have Skirmish Mode arriving with the S…
- Stronghold 4 Q&A - Your Pressing Questions Answered! - 22 July 2026
May the sun bless your bounty, Sire! Today we’ll be discussing the juicy details about Stronghold 4, our latest mainline entry in the Stronghold series launching this year!We’re aiming to answer the most important and pressing questions you've had with our SH4 Q&A! As is often the case with a game in active development, things may change over time as we make Stronghold 4 the best it can be.We'll be providing more information along the way towards launch later this year, so stay tuned!If you want to give us your thoughts or feedback, please feel free to use the feedback form in the demo or join our bustling Stronghold discord community!If you haven't yet had the chance, please dive into the demo and take it for a spin!
- Stronghold 4 Has Been Announced! - 8 June 2026
Wood needed! Return to the green roots of Stronghold in this narrative prequel to the original 'castle sim', coming in 2026! Your Stronghold awaits, Sire!Stronghold 4 is the long-awaited next mainline entry in the Stronghold 'castle sim' series, bringing cinematic story and medieval immersion to the forefront of real-time strategy.Immerse yourself in a cinematic campaign, hone your siegecraft with new mechanics in skirmish mode and customise your castles with a wide selection of castle pieces and cosmetics. Follow the tale of Penryn of Wethel as his simple shepherd’s life is upended and he is forced through trial by fire to become the leader he sees within himself.Feel the impact of a living medieval world on your castle economy and siegecraft, as you battle against hostile outlaws, rival lords and the elements themselves, with the bloody sieges and grand warfare of Stronghold feeling m…
- Stronghold: Definitive Edition Update - Security Patch & Improved Soundtrack - 17 March 2026
Version Number: v1.34 Date: 17 Mar 2026 Update Size: 504.4 MB UPDATES Patched Unity Engine security vulnerability Added improved remastered soundtrack - Following the successful audio overhaul for Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, we are pleased to announce a further enhancement to Stronghold: Definitive Edition. Players can now enjoy a newly remastered soundtrack that elevates the original game’s iconic score to our highest production standards yet.
- Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition - Winter Update & DLC Reveal! - 19 December 2025
Behold and rejoice Sire! Celebrate the festivities and cap off this productive year with the reveal of the second major content update for Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition!From co-op trails and map packs, to new Lords and custom editors, the power is in your hands to play how you want and with whomever you want!There’s no better way or time to play this revamped desert hot strategy classic!Wishlist now on Steam!
- Stronghold Crusader: DE - First Major Update Details! - 7 August 2025
Well met, Sire! Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition has charged into the breach and emerged from its launch victorious! The response of fans and critics to Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition has been nothing short of stellar. While we're still working hard to add the updates, fixes and tweaks that players have been requesting (see our extensive v1.03 Patch Notes for the latest changes), Firefly Studios is keeping this momentum going by revealing some of the details of new gameplay content that players can look forward toThe first major ‘Autumn’ update will arrive in two parts - a free content update as well as an optional paid DLC. The free content will introduce The Crocodile, a brand new computer-controlled opponent with his own tactics, castle design, army and of course, snappy personality! > Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Tacticon Showcase
- Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition - Out Now! - 16 July 2025
The time is NOW, Sire! The long march is finally over and your forces have finally arrived at our divine destination - Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is out now with a 10% launch discount!--> Behold this glorious love-letter to the golden age of strategy games with a freshly-forged launch trailer
- Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Roadmap Reveal - 3 July 2025
Good Day Sire! Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is just under two weeks away from its launch, so what better time than now to share all there is to know about its post-launch plans!Following the positive reception of the two public demos and in keeping with Stronghold DE’s post-launch, we're announcing two major post-launch content updates for Stronghold Crusader DE. These will take the form of an Autumn and a Winter Update, both releasing this year alongside two paid DLCs.The free initial Autumn Update will feature a series-first economic campaign as well as a brand new CPU commander. Five missions will challenge players to complete a series of economic objectives, leaning heavily into the city builder gameplay mechanics of the legendary castle builder series. The new computer-controlled character can meanwhile also be played as friend or foe, selectable in the game’s offline sk…
- New Coop Trailer & Next Fest - 9 June 2025
Good tidings, Sire! Steam Next Fest is now live and with it our second public demo for Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition. Showcasing the latest fixes, a full Sands of Time mission, Historical Campaign challenge and allowing you to freely try out Custom Skirmish mode before the game’s July 15th launch, this is our most content rich demo yet! So if you haven’t yet given it a try or think you can rise even higher on the leaderboards, now is the chance to prove your mettle…Crusader: DE was designed with your feedback in mind and at the very top of that list were features like a proper coop mode. In past games we have offered coop in the form of team-based skirmish play and - In the case of Stronghold Crusader 2 - The ability for two players to control the same castle. In Crusader: DE we have gone a step further and designed a full 10 mission skirmish trail, allowing two players to coo…
- New Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Demo Now Live! - 28 May 2025
Great tidings Sire! The brand new demo for Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is now available for all! Play the new demo and see some of the gameplay improvements and upgrades that truly bring this classic RTS into 2025 - including larger-than-ever maps, massive unit counts, leaderboards and more! Stronghold Crusader: DE is being constantly improved with many player-requested changes including larger-than-ever maps, 10 thousand units in-game and more! All additional feedback from this demo will help make the final game the best version it can be. So get conquering! Play the demo today!
- Stronghold Crusader DE Feature Spotlight: 10k Unit Cap, Mosques & More! - 23 May 2025
Good morrow, my liege! After 150,000 demo downloads, three times as many as Stronghold: Definitive Edition... We have channelled thousands of your Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition feedback forms into new player-requested enhancements! Ahead of the game's July 15th launch, today we dive into some of these community-requested features, confirming key information on maximum unit counts and more in our final ‘Feature Spotlight’ development diary. As some of Crusader’s most knowledgeable and experienced players, your feedback on our upcoming Definitive Edition has been invaluable. So naturally suggestions and ideas discussed online were studied in close detail, ahead of the game’s reveal earlier this year. Your Crusader: DE feedback was then examined after January 20th through the demo’s feedback form. Many features have been requested by players since January. These include raising t…
- Feature Spotlight: New Units In Stronghold Crusader DE! - 30 April 2025
Good day, my liege! After a few eagle-eyed players infiltrated the help files, Assassin style, in our Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition reveal demo, we thought it was time to pull back the curtain on our 8 new units. Today’s Feature Spotlight video brings with it new footage and juicy gameplay details for our Bedouin soldiers, expanding the original roster with fresh tactical options at launch on July 15th. Inspired by the roaming Bedouin tribes of the Middle Eastern deserts, these eight new troops open up a whole new world of siege tactics (and hurt!) on your rival lords. Be they friends you played the OG Crusader with way back in the day or new Stronghold allies found in our official Discord server, enemy Lords and Ladies won’t know what hit them. From camel-riding lancers and bowmen, to sneaking fire-starters and demolition specialists, our expanded remaster adds plenty of new…
- Feature Spotlight: New AI Lords - 4 April 2025
Greetings My Liege! As the warmth and green of spring finally begins to break through (At least... Here in the UK!) we are marching ever closer to our July 15th release date for this long awaited expanded remaster of your favourite Stronghold. We know July feels like a million miles away right now, but rest assured we are working hard to implement your feedback and suggestions before launch. This is thanks in no small part to the more than 6,000 of you who filled out our demo feedback form and the 150,000 potential future players who have wishlisted Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition! With today's new video we thought... What better way to toast this new season and alleviate some of that wait than with a sneak peek at our deadly new AI opponents, awaiting you this summer! From the wily and dastardly to the blunt and brutish, each of these new characters embody different cultures, e…
- Crusader: Definitive Edition - Reveal Round-Up! - 20 March 2025
Since revealing Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition in January's Real-Time Strategy Fest, you have responded to our rally war cry in full force! With over 150,000 wishlists, 130,000 demo downloads and more than 6,000 helpful responses to our in-game player survey... Let's just say the granary is full, my Lord. While you wait for our July 15th release, we hope this collection of updates from the team here at Firefly helps bring you up to speed about what you can expect from the final game, before we march back to the desert fortresses and arid plains of the past. Please enjoy these updates and subscribe to Firefly Studios on YouTube for more reveals! 🎨 Artists Niall, Darrin, Jorge and Tom dive into the recreation of Crusader: DE's new visuals! Discover the extra animals and features coming to Crusader from our talented art team. 🏰 Studio Head Nick provides a general breakdown of ou…
- Play Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Demo Today! - 20 January 2025
Greetings Sire! Gird your loins and sharpen your steel because 23 years after it first launched, we’re incredibly excited to announce Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition! Travel back in time to the legendary crusades for the holy land in this new expanded definitive edition, releasing this year on July 15th 2025 with brand new content, elevated graphics and extensive player-requested features all rebuilt by game’s original developers! This title is many people’s favourite old-school 2D RTS, so taking this cult favourite and elevating it for the modern player has been an endeavour of passion for us – one that is only possible because of the community’s clear desire for this kind of classic strategy experience. The best way we could think of thanking you for your support has been to go above and beyond, with new AIs, missions, modes and maps, as well as the Steam multiplayer and works…
- Vote for Stronghold: DE for Labor of Love in the Steam Awards! - 27 November 2024
Greetings Sire! The Steam Awards is now taking nominations, so we kindly ask for your vote in the Labor of Love category! From new DLC content to Winter/Spring Updates to technical improvements and fixes, turning Stronghold: Definitive Edition into the ultimate way to play the BAFTA-nominated original has been an endeavour of passion through and through. With so many of you having returned to save the kingdom from the Rat, Snake, Pig and Wolf already, every bit of lordly support in this moment would mean everything to us. We thank you deeply, Sire!
- New "Valley of the Wolf" DLC Campaign + Free New Castle Trail + v1.31 Hotfix - 30 April 2024
Today we released both version v1.3 of Stronghold: Definitive Edition and our second DLC campaign, "Valley of the Wolf". Now available at 10% off during launch week, Stronghold: Definitive Edition's second DLC adds seven new missions concluding the story of your attempts to rescue the Jewel, this time from the legendary Wolf. A New Story - Rescue the Jewel in this new campaign featuring the greatest foe in the Stronghold series, the villainous Wolf! 7 Epic Missions - Prove yourself as a Stronghold veteran and strategist, with some of our most challenging military scenarios yet. Fresh Gameplay - Tackle each mission with 20 years of Stronghold experience and unique spins on traditional series gameplay. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2728000/Stronghold_Definitive_Edition__Valley_of_the_Wolf_Campaign/ Version Number: v1.31 (hotfix) Date: 13 May 2024 Update Size: 20.5 MB UPDATES Fixed a…
- Valley of the Wolf DLC & Spring Update - 28 March 2024
Snarls Soon you will see what it means to wage real warfare! That is... In our final instalment of the Stronghold: Definitive Edition 'Jewel' campaign! Valley of the Wolf extends the base game with seven new missions and extra achievements. Under the tutelage of the wise Sergeant, finish the fight by rescuing Sir Longarm's captured kin once and for all, when this new DLC releases for $2.99, €2.99 and £2.49 on April 30th. This final chapter of 'The Jewel' campaign pits players against the greatest rogue of them all... The vicious Wolf! To safely retrieve the Jewel of the North and put an end to The Wolf's insidious scourge, players must plunge directly into the belly of the beast and bring the fight to his borders. Against great odds in unfamiliar territory, survival alone demands that nothing is held back. Also arriving on April 30th is our FREE 'Spring Update', featuring a second castl…
- Get Stronghold: Definitive Edition for 20% off! - 14 March 2024
As part of the Steam Spring Sale, Stronghold: Definitive Edition is 20% off for a limited period. The Swine's Bay DLC, released as part of the Winter Update, is also on discount for 10% during this time. Take advantage of these discounts while they last!
- New "Swine's Bay" DLC Campaign + Free New Economic Campaign - 13 February 2024
Today we released both version v1.2 of Stronghold: Definitive Edition and our first DLC campaign, "Swine's Bay". Now available at 10% off during launch week, Stronghold: Definitive Edition's first DLC adds seven new missions continuing the story of your attempts to rescue the Jewel, this time from the notorious Slaver Captain Hogsfoot. A New Story - Rescue the Jewel from the scurvy-ridden clutches of the wretched Slaver Captain Hogsfoot in a new campaign. 7 Epic Missions - Prove yourself as a Stronghold veteran and strategist, with some of our most challenging military scenarios yet. Fresh Gameplay - Tackle each mission with 20 years of Stronghold experience and unique spins on traditional series gameplay. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2727990/Stronghold_Definitive_Edition__Swines_Bay_Campaign/ Version Number: v1.2 Date: 13 Feb 2024 Update Size: 150 MB UPDATES Added the ‘Home Fires…
