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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
What is going to be the launch price of Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition?
$19.99, €19.99 and £16.99.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!