Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition News

[h3]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![/h3][p][/p][h3]--> Behold this glorious love-letter to the golden age of strategy games with a freshly-forged launch trailer
[/h3][carousel][/carousel][p]The fan reception to Stronghold: Definitive Edition in 2023 showed us the hunger in the community for more games that take the cult classic games of the past, leaving the gold while elevating the old. The tremendous outpouring of love has pushed us to make this definitive edition of the fan-favourite Crusader the best it possible can be, adding more features, fixes and content than anyone could have expected. We can't wait to see how fans take this reimagined classic and make it their own. [/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Every bit of feedback across our demos has helped to inform the final game, allowing us to craft this expanded remaster hand-in-hand with the community. This player-first development focus has helped to shape this into a love letter to the golden age of isometric strategy games, one that will continue after launch with a robust roadmap of updates and DLC.

The fundamental game will feel like an elevated version of the classic experience for returning fans and new players alike. With improvements and expansions to practically every core feature and beyond: reworked visuals, higher fidelity audio, new units, new AI Lords, new modes, 10k units cap, co-op, new missions, larger-than-ever maps, 8-player Steam multiplayer, Steam Workshop support, QoL improvements and more![/p][p][/p][p]Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is the culmination of almost a quarter century of development experience, fan support and technological advancements. Better-looking, smoother-running and bigger in all ways possible, Stronghold Crusader: DE is the ultimate way to take a trip down memory lane.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][h3]Critical Reception[/h3][p]Inverse (9/10) -- "This Definitive Edition is a genuinely massive update that improves the game in a handful of crucial ways. It’s taken one of the best castle builders of all time and transformed it into something truly definitive."[/p][p][/p][p]Finger Guns (9/10) -- "Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition sets a gold standard of what should be expected of remasters."[/p][p][/p][p]4Players (8.5/10) -- "Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition offers the core of the RTS masterpiece in a beautiful, fluid, and improved form."[/p][p][/p][h2]Stronghold Crusader DE is out NOW on Steam with a 10% launch discount![/h2][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Seen a bug? Got feedback? Please submit issues both large and small through the Firefly Studios support site. Between this and our planned post-launch roadmap we are dedicated to fixing any significant issues players are having and the more reports we get the faster and more effectively we can do that :)[/p][p]
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This game was one of FireFly Studios’ first games to introduce me to the concept of strategy, RTS games. Without Stronghold: Crusader and Rome: Total War, I would not be as into the Civilization or Europa Universalis games as I am today. With this new take, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition expands on the original game. FireFly Studios streamlines the classic 2002 strategy RTS game in Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition.  

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition features eight new playable units, four fresh AI lords to face off against, and several additional campaigns. Play alone in two new historical campaigns and four Sands of Time skirmish trails or team up with a friend in the all-new co-op trail. Back in my day, co-op wasn’t a thing yet for this game! Players can also go head-to-head with eight-player online multiplayer, competing to see who is the best strategist. 

Players can also dive into skirmish mode with the addition of player-requested features,... Read more

[h3]Greetings Sire! We know there's still plenty of people who still have questions about Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, so here’s a recap of everything you need to know about Stronghold Crusader DE – what it is, what it offers and what it doesn’t.[/h3][p]
What is Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition?
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is an expanded remaster of the original 2002 ‘castle sim’ Stronghold Crusader from Firefly Studios. Overhauled by the original game’s veteran developers, this new definitive edition features remastered artwork, animations and music, in addition fresh gameplay content, returning voice actors and many fan-requested improvements including larger maps. Improved with new playable units, characters, campaigns and more, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is the ultimate way to play this classic RTS. [/p][p][/p][p]Will it have a skirmish?
Yes. Skirmish was introduced to the series in the original Stronghold Crusader (it was never in the first Stronghold game), so it naturally comes with Crusader DE.[/p][p][/p][p]Can we finally play via Steam directly, without GameRanger?
That’s right! Just like with Stronghold: DE, you can now besiege up to 8 friends and rivals via Steam multiplayer.[/p][p][/p][p]What makes it different to Stronghold Crusader HD (2012)?
The 2012 HD version is simply the original with a slight HD visual uplift in order to make it better playable on Steam (which launched after the game was already released) and to add compatibility with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 and 10. It didn’t have any additional content or features.[/p][p]Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition elevates the original in practically every way. On top of rebuilt visuals and high fidelity audio, it has all the Crusader Extreme content as well as numerous modern updates. This means at launch you can expect a 10k unit cap, 800x800 maps (4 times bigger than base), a new co-op, 8 new units types, new 4 Lords, new modes, new campaigns, ultrawide support and more![/p][p][/p][p]What is going to be the launch price of Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition?
$19.99, €19.99 and £16.99. [/p][p][/p][p]What languages are available?
We’re providing support for 20 languages, more than the series has ever had. Depending on the language, this support may range from interface and subtitles to full audio. Languages that include both audio and text will be English, German, Polish, Russian, French, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Hungarian.

Then we will have text-only translations for Arabic, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Czech, Dutch, Korean, Ukrainian, Turkish, Japanese, Swedish and Thai.[/p][p][/p][p]Will SHC: DE be an add-on to Stronghold: Definitive Edition (2023)?
No, Stronghold Crusader: DE is a completely new fully fledged title, combining the core Crusader formula with new gameplay content, fan-requested quality of life changes and key updates all enhanced by new art and animations. So just as Stronghold: Definitive Edition elevated the original Stronghold 2001 experience, Stronghold Crusader: DE stands on its own feet. [/p][p][/p][p]Are you still working on Stronghold Unreal?
Yes, we are! Firefly is still actively engaged in developing Stronghold Unreal. With new ideas, new talent and new technology, it is our biggest undertaking yet and one that we can’t wait to share with you when we’re ready.[/p][p][/p][p]What can be expected after launch?
Alongside community driven features coming at launch, which include new buildings and increased unit caps, Firefly has created a robust post-release plan so that players who have conquered the main game but want more have plenty to look forward to in the form of two free updates will be released alongside a paid DLC each.[/p][p]The first free Autumn Update will feature a series-first economic campaign and a brand new CPU commander (AI Lord) as well as three new maps - one for skirmish, another in Free Build mode and a balanced multiplayer map. The economic campaign will challenge players to complete a series of economic objectives across five missions, leaning heavily into the city builder gameplay mechanics of the castle sim series. The new Lord can meanwhile be played as friend or foe, selectable in the game’s offline skirmish and online multiplayer modes as an opponent or ally. [/p][p]Following this, the game’s second free Winter Update will add perhaps the most requested feature by players so far... the ability to customise CPU opponents, castles and campaigns! Create the fierce rivals or stalwart allies of your dreams (or nightmares), design their defences and then place all of this into custom mission scenarios created by the community. The Winter Update also continues our community-first trend with the addition of a second co-op campaign of missions as well as a new pack of three maps being added to the overall pool, keeping things fresh for players after launch.[/p][p]Alongside these updates, we’ll be releasing a pair of paid DLCs, which in Stronghold tradition, will each introduce two new CPU opponents and a new series of challenging missions (Stronghold fans know this as a ‘skirmish trail’). This would bring the number of CPU characters in the game to a total of 25![/p][p][/p][h3]We hope this answers the main questions you had about Stronghold Crusader DE. For even more details about what's in the game, please check out our YouTube Channel and socials.[/h3][p][/p][h2]Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition launches in one week on July 15th. Wishlist it now to be informed as soon as it's live![/h2][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[h3]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![/h3][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]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.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]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 skirmish and online multiplayer modes. Last but not least, three new maps will also be added, one for skirmish, another in Free Build mode and a balanced multiplayer battlefield.[/p][hr][/hr][p][/p][p]Following this content drop, the game’s free Winter Update will add perhaps the greatest player request so far: the ability to customise CPU opponents, castles and campaigns! Players will be able to create the rivals or allies of their dreams (or nightmares), design their defences and then place all of this into custom mission scenarios created by the community. [/p][p][/p][p]If that wasn’t enough, the Winter Update continues this community-first trend with the addition of a second co-op trail of missions. The 10 missions found in the first co-op trail not enough for you? Well, dare to brave the challenges of this new trail and you just might come out victorious. Once again a new map pack of three maps will be added to the overall pool, keeping things fresh for players after launch.[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h2]Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition launches soon on July 15th. Wishlist now to be the first to know when it goes live!
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[p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]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…[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]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 cooperate and defeat the AI across a selection of new maps… With one or two classic battlefields thrown in there for good measure![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Featuring the game’s new AI opponents, units and more, this mode takes full advantage of everything Crusader: DE has to offer. In addition to all of this, we are pleased to announce that - Even though it's called a ‘Coop Trail’ - Solo players won’t be left out in the cold. If for whatever reason you are unable to buddy up with another human player online, the trail is fully playable with the help of one of our 20 AI characters! Battle alongside everyone from The Snake to The Sentinel, as you conquer this fresh take on classic skirmish trail gameplay.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Nothing forges stronger bonds than conquering challenges together. Whether it’s reuniting with distant pals, bonding with a new crusading comrade or finally teaming up with the Lord of Rats himself, the series-first coop mode for Stronghold Crusader: DE will be your chance to create new memories across fresh battlefields![/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p]