Firefly Studios

Stronghold Crusader HD

By in Firefly News, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Comments Off on Middle East & Crusader History in RTS-City Builder – Stronghold: Crusader HD

Middle East & Crusader History in RTS-City Builder – Stronghold: Crusader HD

Gird your loins and sharpen your steel because, a full quarter century since the studio’s inception, Firefly is ecstatic to announce Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition! Following Stronghold: DE in 2023, which has sold over half a million copies, Firefly can now reveal their best-selling Crusader title will return with a new definitive edition releasing this year on July 15th 2025!

Continue reading →

By in Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Stronghold Showcase – Episode 8

Stronghold Showcase – Episode 8

This week we return to our fan-favourite series Stronghold Showcase. Firefly’s very own Aaron Hayden takes you through five different sieges, scenarios and battlefields across our legacy titles from Stronghold HD to Stronghold Crusader 2. This small selection of community maps is intended to give you some fresh options in your multiplayer and single player sessions.

Travel to Ancient Greece in ‘300 Spartans’, Slovakia in our very first Eastern European community-made castle ‘Spis Castle’ or even Australia where everything is trying to kill you, Lords and wildlife alike!

Continue reading →

By in Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Stronghold Showcase – Episode 7

Stronghold Showcase – Episode 7

While you wait for the next entry in the Stronghold series Aaron delivers another five choice custom maps in our latest episode of Stronghold Showcase. Returning to completely original player maps and scenarios after our recent forays into Middle Earth and Westeros in previous episodes, this week’s Showcase once again delivers the medieval goods. From feudal urban warfare and holiday resorts to the Black Sea and monkey eating islands, there’s something for everyone regardless of which Stronghold game you load up this weekend:

Henn Dommen (By Unikunok)
Requiem (By The Dragonheart)
The Black Sea (By Dovahkiin)
Cold Harbour (By The Geko)
Monkey Eating Island (By kevinsogo)

Do you have a multiplayer battlefield, siege scenario or cosmetic map you think deserves to be in a future Showcase? Then comment and let us know! We’re constantly on the lookout for cool fan-created content and love spotlighting lesser-known creations that go under the radar, so show us your moves!

By in Firefly News, Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Stronghold Showcase – Lord of the Rings

Stronghold Showcase – Lord of the Rings

With Stronghold players flocking to get the best Game of Thrones based maps from the last episode of the Showcase, we thought it fitting to embrace the other titan of both fantasy and custom Stronghold maps – The Lord of the Rings. With the likes of Helms Deep and Minas Tirith already covered in previous episodes of the Showcase, we head to other hot spots within Middle Earth. The City of Osgiliath, Pellenor Fields, and The Westfold are all available to download now for players wanting to recreate castles and battles from Tolkien’s epic world:

Osgiliath

War in the East

The Westfold

Middle Earth

Four Castles

Do you have a multiplayer battlefield, siege scenario or cosmetic map you think deserves to be in a future episode? Comment and let us know! We’re constantly on the lookout for cool fan-created content and love spotlighting lesser-known creations that go under the radar.

By in Stronghold Crusader HD Comments Off on Inspirations Behind Stronghold Crusader

Inspirations Behind Stronghold Crusader

Firefly Studios welcomes you to this brand new Stronghold video series, Inspirations Behind Crusader! So saddle up your camel with grappling hooks and slingshots as we travel back to 1095 in search of the dawn of the Crusades. In this episode we look at the grand picture of this brutal time in history, analysing why the studio chose to travel half the globe to plant its RTS-simulation flag in the sands of the historic Middle East.

Learn about the inciting incidents which led to this two decade long conflict, who the big players were and how the Arabian economy would translate into the Stronghold formula in Firefly’s attempt to make a more fast paced, multiplayer focused counterpart to it’s atmospheric, story-rich beginnings of Stronghold. If you want to see more, we’ll be producing a whole series on the inspirations behind the Crusader titles down the year in addition to our Stronghold Next, Romans: Age of Caesar and community content. Be sure to check out our European series covering the mainline Stronghold games, you can check that out by clicking here.

By in Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Stronghold Showcase – Episode 2

Stronghold Showcase – Episode 2

This week we’re back with another episode of the Stronghold Showcase! This new series sees Firefly Studios highlighting hidden gems from Steam Workshop, Stronghold Heaven and other Stronghold fan sites giving new life to classic titles. Whether you’re seeking a fresh Crusader skirmish map on which to battle friends or a brand new siege scenario to test your mettle in Stronghold we have you covered! Selecting maps from Firefly Studio’s legacy titles with active map making communities and easy access via Steam Workshop or Stronghold Heaven, Aaron showcases a series of awesome custom maps to dig your teeth into until Stronghold Next surfaces:

Do you have a multiplayer battlefield, siege scenario or cosmetic map you think deserves to be in a future episode? Comment and let us know! We’re constantly on the lookout for cool fan-created content and love spotlighting lesser-known creations that go under the radar.

By in Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Stronghold Showcase #1

Stronghold Showcase #1

This week we debut a brand new series on Firefly Studios’ YouTube channel suggested by you – the players! Introducing the ‘Stronghold Showcase‘ in which we flaunt five awesome user-created maps from our five favorite Stronghold games for your viewing pleasure. Each episode’s collection of community made gems will be available to download immediately via the game’s Steam Workshop page or on Stronghold fan site Stronghold Heaven.

So while you patiently wait for more Stronghold Next info and gameplay, why not dip into our legacy titles with Aaron’s cherry picked array of sieges, skirmishes and economic scenarios? Watch as we take you from the realms of Legends to the lush green fields of Stronghold 2 and the deserts of the Crusader series!

By in Firefly News, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD Comments Off on Firefly Joins One Special Day

Firefly Joins One Special Day

On September 28th Firefly Studios will begin a second ‘Crusade for SpecialEffect’! For 24 hours all proceeds from our fan-favourite Crusader games will be donated to this amazing charity for One Special Day. That means 100% of Steam revenue from Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold Crusader 2 and all associated DLC will be used to help fund SpecialEffect’s ongoing quest for inclusiveness and accessibility in gaming.

In addition to this day-long pledge, we are also planning giveaways and other promotions on the day, generally doing everything we can to spread the word of One Special Day!

By in Stronghold 2, Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD, Stronghold Legends Comments Off on Top 5 Custom Maps

Top 5 Custom Maps

This week Aaron guides you through another edition of Firefly Studio’s favourite Stronghold user made maps! We travel from the sandy beaches of Crusader 2’s Westeros to Avatar’s Earth Kingdom in Stronghold 2: Steam Edition, leaving a trail of sieges and battles in our wake. Treading new paths in some hidden jewels from the Steam Workshop, these are some of the best maps that Firefly recommends for all those who have battled through every title of the Stronghold series:

1. Legend of Green Man
2. Oasis Duel
3. Earth Kingdom, Avatar
4. Fair Trade
5. Westeros Central

By in Stronghold Crusader HD, Stronghold HD Comments Off on STRONGHOLD UPDATE – NEW HD PATCH v1.41

STRONGHOLD UPDATE – NEW HD PATCH v1.41

A free update has been released for Stronghold HD and Stronghold Crusader HD. The new 1.41 patch adds the following new features and fixes…

  • All versions now use Unicode for multiplayer.
  • Added support for Simplified Chinese.
  • Japanese version now uses Mieryo font.
  • Documents path override system added to allow players to use a different folder for config files, maps and saves.
  • Fixed a 17 year old typo (Ethlered > Ethelred) 🙂

Don’t have the games on Steam? Follow these links to download the latest non-Steam updates for Stronghold HD and Stronghold Crusader HD!

Get Early Access

Sign up for beta invites for upcoming titles, exclusive giveaways and news.
Note that by entering your email address and clicking 'Sign Up' you are giving Firefly Studios permission to email you with marketing communications about their games. Your email will not be shared with any third parties.