Fans of the classic castle building series can now return to the deserts of the Middle East circa 1189 in Stronghold Crusader 2, with the game out now on Steam. A new launch trailer has been released to mark the occasion, showing the developers battling it out in online multiplayer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzjAb1h2TmE

After two years of development Stronghold Crusader 2 is now available. Looking back on the game’s development, the team posted a thank you message on the official website:

“Thank you for supporting us and making Stronghold Crusader 2 possible. This is our first ever independently developed and funded Stronghold game, built with your encouragement, feedback and support over the past two years. It is far from the end for Crusader 2, with content updates, DLC and patches all planned to follow in the weeks and months after launch, but it gives us great pleasure to say that the game is now available on Steam!

Just like you some of us, having worked on Stronghold Crusader back in 2002, have been waiting for this moment for over twelve years. From the very first day of development it has been an honour to work on this project and we hope Crusader 2 meets your expectations as fans of the first game and the series as a whole.

If you enjoyed spending long nights fending off fiendish AI opponents and friends in the original, Crusader 2 will provide you with everything you need to relive those memories. With two campaigns, six skirmish trails, eight AI characters, co-op, a map editor, free build mode and a selection of multiplayer maps, Crusader 2 delivers the long-lasting challenge you expect from a Stronghold game. We can’t wait for you to try it out.”

The game is now available on Steam, with a Special Edition that includes Stronghold Crusader HD, ‘The Art of Stronghold Crusader 2’ digital art book and full soundtrack composed by Robert Euvino.

Stronghold Crusader 2 has gone gold and to celebrate Firefly Studios has released new gameplay footage of the series’ most notorious AI opponent: “Stronghold is known for its tendency to test players’ mental dexterity, and with the resurgence of these kinds of games it makes perfect sense to include The Wolf,” the developer said in a new blog post. “We want this addition to the cast of AI characters to reinforce our message that Crusader 2 retains the series’ sense of challenge. When you are victorious against The Wolf, or any character for that matter, it should feel like an … Continue reading Final Stronghold Crusader 2 Developer Diary Released: The Wolf →

A new community Q&A video has just been released for Stronghold Crusader 2, answering questions put to the developers over the past weeks and months. The sequel to the 2002 cult classic Stronghold Crusader, Crusader 2 is set for release early next year, making this an ideal time to talk release date, classic Crusader 1 features, possible ports and more. This sixth release in Firefly’s series of question and answer videos was made possible by the developer’s recent move to self-publishing. Over the course of the past six months Firefly has been open and transparent with players, resulting in much … Continue reading New Stronghold Crusader Development Video →

Stronghold HD and Stronghold Crusader HD are now available for purchase at GOG, Amazon, GetGames and DotEmu and to celebrate Firefly Studios has launched two new websites showcasing the titles. The new websites showcase the games’ HD battlefield view, which allows players to zoom out and play in real-time with the entire map on one screen. Players can advance on the castle gates while flanking the enemy from behind, feign retreat and lead their foes into a deadly trap or just sit back and watch the destruction unfold. Stronghold HD and Stronghold Crusader HD are available now. More information on … Continue reading Classic Stronghold Ships In HD →

Firefly Studios, creators of the Stronghold series, has just announced that sci-fi strategy sim Space Colony is being re-released next month in the form of Space Colony HD. Described by PC Gamer as ‘A fun, refreshingly light-hearted and deviously challenging sim’, Space Colony was released in 2003 to a warm critical reception from publications such as Gameindustry.com, GameSpy, GamePro and G4 TV. Space Colony HD has players build a base on different planets throughout the galaxy, defending it from hostile alien threats while also keeping their ragtag crew of colonists alive and content. Your colourful crew includes the amicable Venus … Continue reading Space Colony To Be Re-released In HD →

Stronghold Kingdoms is now officially out of beta and to mark the occasion Firefly Studios has just released a new Launch Trailer for the game. Patch 2.0 was released this morning, updating the popular Castle MMO with two requested features: Sound effects and a new Village Overview screen. Sound effects have been introduced during battles and for daily activities such as scouting and trading, adding another layer of immersion to the game for all players. A new Village Overview screen has also been introduced for users with an active Premium Token. The new screen shows an overview of your Villages, … Continue reading Bye, Bye, Beta, Stronghold Kingdoms Officially Launches →

Firefly Studios, creators of the Stronghold series and free-to-play MMORTS Stronghold Kingdoms, are proud to announce the launch of the game’s sixth English-language game world. ‘World 6’ launched in response to rising player numbers. This increase coincides with the launch of Kingdoms on several new platforms, including Amazon’s Game Connect and most recently Bigpoint. Recent additions to the game include a new Quests system and a prize-giving Quest Wheel, which proved instantly popular with players. Stronghold Kingdoms now has well over 1,000,000 registered users, running their kingdoms from more than 100 different countries. Firefly hopes World 6 will be the … Continue reading Stronghold Kingdoms Opens Sixth English Language Server →