Genre: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy
Stronghold
What's Next for Stronghold?
New Stronghold Reveal in 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw79RHYr-5M
We’re kicking off the year with a short announcement on the status of our upcoming Stronghold game! It gives us great pleasure to announce that we have now entered into full production on the next mainline Stronghold for PC.
Planned for late summer, our full gameplay reveal will include the following:
Title & Setting - It may surprise you to know that 'Stronghold Next' is just a code name! So we'll be announcing this along with the game's setting.
Planned Features - We'll be talking single player and multiplayer plans for Stronghold Next and the return of some fan-favorite features.
Game Mechanics - Fresh gameplay will give you exciting new ways to play and strategic options for decimating foes on the battlefield.
New Units - Our debut gameplay footage will include a few of the new units you'll be using to besiege your friends at launch.
As with Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Next will be digitally self-published by Firefly Studios and released when it’s ready on Steam. Please look forward to more Stronghold Next information in the coming months and if you have questions about the game let us know!
Along with announcements and interviews we’ll be hosting community Q&As where the Stronghold team answers YOUR questions. So tell us what you want to know in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them in future videos.
Happy New Year!
Small Update
We have fixed a few issues with how the game functions:
- Using Steam invites in multiplayer now launches the game correctly for the joining player
- Some players have reported having problems loading/saving games because the game cannot successfully path to the config files in their Documents folder. We have added an override file that allows you to manually set a new path for the config files. Full details on how to use the file can be found here: https://support.fireflyworlds.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/202/0/i-cant-save-or-load-games
- Fixed an issue in the help files causing some characters to display incorrectly
Firefly Dev Update
Stronghold Next, MetaMorph & Stronghold Kingdoms!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vRQ6cJEiDs
Now that Stronghold 2: Steam Edition is available, Stronghold Kingdoms has arrived on mobile and MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures is rapidly approaching release we thought this would be a great time to update everyone on the state of play.
Watch as our very own Lead Designer Simon Bradbury and coders Matt and Jack update you on all things Firefly with a snapshot on production for each title currently in development:
Stronghold Next [Working Title] - Now in Active Development
MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures - Coming Soon to Early Access
Stronghold Kingdoms - New Updates Planned!
In the video above our three developers provide a quick update on each title including new gameplay, timelines and nuggets of information. As we look forward to the release of MetaMorph: Dungeon Creatures on Steam Early Access and prep for full production and the reveal of Stronghold Next in 2018 this new video is designed to let you know exactly where we’re at.
While Stronghold Kingdoms is already available worldwide you can expect MetaMorph to release very soon, followed by a full reveal of Stronghold Next in the not too distant future. Our reveal of the next mainline entry in the Stronghold series will take place next year, including almost everything we can show at that stage and loads of information. Rather than a simple announcement in the form of a logo reveal you expect gameplay footage, the full title, setting, features and new units all in one go!
We hope you enjoy today’s video and look forward to playing these games and updates in the near future.
Halloween Update
Pumpkin-Head Peasants, New Maps and 15% Off!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8H8m5PxTTE
Update to the latest version, load up your favourite skirmish map and take a look at the campfire, because something’s not quite right!
A terrible spell has been cast over your (mostly) innocent peasants with the arrival of our Stronghold 2 Halloween Update. Something horrible has happened to your faithful subjects, their once endearing visage twisted and corrupted by the artists at Firefly Studios. Your only hope is to resist the temptation to hollow out and decorate their new noggins, instead putting them to work away from your corrupted keep. You could try burning your problems away with the new wholly cosmetic green wildfire, although we’re told the curse can only be lifted by those who cast it…
Halloween Update
Pumpkins – Terrify the locals with horrifically impractical pumpkin-head peasants or break the spell by assigning them work in your castle.
New Maps – Besiege friends and family across two new Kingmaker maps, marching armies across bat shaped beaches and pumpkin peninsula.
Wildfire – Melt the hearts (also - skin) of your online adversaries by bathing their castles and temporarily disfigured peasants in magical green fire.
Please Note - This event will last one week with the above cosmetic changes in place until 2pm GMT on November 2nd. After this time the spell will break, your peasants returning to normal and the eternal green fire becoming regular garden variety not-at-all-magic fire once again. Any maps added to the game for this event will however remain available via the Steam Workshop links above.
Happy Halloween!
Steam Workshop Competition
Win a Lifetime's Supply of Stronghold Games!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RE81HT_Zkc
With full Workshop support added as part of the Steam Edition update, it's easier than ever to share your iconic castles, historic battlegrounds and epic fantasy landscapes!
With over a hundred maps uploaded since launch we're encouraging further historic (re)creation by running our very own custom map competition! Demonstrate your creativity, technical design skills and ingenuity to the Stronghold community and you could win a lifetime’s supply of Firefly Studios games!
For your chance to win follow these simple steps:
Run Steam.
Open the Stronghold 2: Steam Edition in-game Map Editor.
Design your custom map.
Save the map by clicking ‘File’ and ‘Save As’, naming it whatever you like.
Publish to Steam Workshop by clicking ‘File’ and ‘Publish to Steam Workshop’.
Write a short description, add all tags that fit your map and make sure you’ve selected the ‘Everyone’ option in the Visibility section.
Click ‘Publish’ and check your map appears on the Stronghold 2 Steam Workshop.
Send an email with a link to your custom map to news@fireflyworlds.com.
New to the Map Editor? Check out the above video tutorial!
Please Note: We can only accept maps that were submitted between October 16th and October 30th. Maps submitted before or after these dates will not be considered for selection in the competition.
After October 30th we will play and evaluate each submitted map choosing two players as our winner and runner-up, both of which will be announced and spotlighted on the official Firefly Studios website, Facebook and Twitter pages. Our winner will be blessed with a lifetime’s supply of Firefly Studios games, while our honourable runner-up will be sent the Ultimate Edition of Stronghold Crusader 2!
Steam Edition Out Now!
Launch Discount and Free Upgrade
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbQTyT6inkE
We are pleased to announce that Stronghold 2: Steam Edition is now available to download and play! Discounted by 15% during launch week and released as FREE update for existing owners on Steam, this new remaster is designed to future proof one of your favourite Strongholds. With new content, enhanced graphics and a reworked UI the Steam Edition brings Stronghold 2 into the modern era for both veterans and castle sim newbies.
Steam Edition
Created exclusively for Steam, Stronghold 2: Steam Edition comes packed with Steam multiplayer support, achievements, enhanced visuals, a new map pack, digital art book, soundtrack and trading cards. The Steam Edition also updates the original game with full Steam Workshop integration, allowing to you easily create and share custom maps with friends. Recreate iconic real-life castles, battlegrounds from medieval history and scenes from your favourite fantasy epic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2eHD4XUuvM
What is Stronghold 2?
Tax, torture or treat your peasants? Decide as you joust over a lavish banquet, all while under siege from the warmongering Lord Barclay. With powerful barons jostling for power over a disintegrating kingdom, it is up to you to stem the tides of ambition and unite the land under the one true King!
Building on the sim gameplay of the original Stronghold, Stronghold 2 allows players to rule as they please and still conquer each skirmish. Unhappy peasants turn to crime and must be punished, rival lords can raise entire armies on their title alone and sieges must be fought tooth and nail, with close combat taking place inside castle structures! Online play extends this to competitive multiplayer for up to eight players, with offline skirmish mode also available against computer-controller opponents.
48 Hours to Go!
Original vs Steam Edition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbTdNoJKGHc
With just a few days to go before the long awaited re-release of Stronghold 2 on October 5, we take a closer look at the game’s visual enhancements with a side-by-side graphical comparison. Thanks to enhanced visuals, widescreen support and a reworked user interface, you can now keep better track of your pitiful subjects, observe a greater area of the battlefield and watch closely as medieval life unfolds within your castle walls. Perhaps now those lazy peasants will think twice about stealing from the granary!
Top 5 Custom Maps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rso9pijchk
The most hardcore Stronghold players all have hundreds if not thousands of hours logged into our games, so who better to create the best custom maps! Credits to Aedile, Ellessar, Sir_Vet, Brave Sir Robin and Stratego for their thoughtfully designed scenarios, many of which come complete with their own backstory. Can’t wait for the release of Stronghold 2: Steam Edition? Then load up the old version and try one of these excellent player maps right away! Don’t forget the new Steam Edition will also come with an all-new map pack, designed by the folks here at Firefly.
The Making of Stronghold 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=560UuJstw6k
Ever wondered what it was like for the original Stronghold 2 developers to produce a highly anticipated sequel to the original castle sim? Then watch our new ‘Making Of’ feature and find out exactly what it was like, straight from our two most senior members in the London office. Designer Simon Bradbury and Producer Paul Harris, both of whom worked on the original release of Stronghold 2 in 2005, discuss custom engines, new features and working with one of the biggest publishers in the world!
