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Latest News
Stronghold 4 Information Megathread
Posted on 16th Jul 2026
Greetings to all!
Firefly Studios started teasing the upcoming SH4 game with bits of information in a Q&A video.
As time goes by, we obtain more and more information that we eventually are going to administer in the on-site wiki. Until then, the SHN staff pleasantly summarises you the points we find most worthy to know about Stronghold 4's lifecycle, release date and other features, in this thread. :-] We ask you however to kindly discuss SH4 in the dedicated forum rather than here.
Thanks to the baseline Unreal Engine 5, datamining has been possible to a great extent. If you are really curious and want no stone unturned, you can read about additional potential features and characters here at your leisure. Be warned, there is no turning back!
Key Points
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Release and Support
- SH4 will be released in 2027, preceded by a six-month-long early-access period that starts sometime in 2026.
- The price tag for both periods is unknown, but mostly determined by the community.
- Early Access will launch with Skirmish Mode (8 bots), a 10-mission-long Skirmish Trail, a 22-mission-long Story Campaign and Free Build modes.
- During Early Access, the Economic Campaign, the Online Multiplayer (with or without bots at will) and a Co-op Skirmish Trail will be added.
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Gameplay Features
- Most known features so far have already been unveiled by the first public demo, which we announced a while back here.
- Map sizes will go as large as 1000x1000, starting from 400x400 with increments of 200.
- Weather will have limited effect in the form of random events.
- Unit abilities will return, such as the man-at-arms can throw a recharging spear, or the longbowman can randomly land a critically hitting shot.
- Most buildings will be able to peeked into with a close enough zoom, or by hovering the cursor above the building while a worker operates it.
- Building will be possible in a certain radius around the Keep, rather than anywhere within the borders of the estate.
- Building and troop limits will be set for each player (numbers unknown).
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Story
- The main lore precedes that of SH1 by several years, featuring a bunch of characters well-known from that game.
- The protagonist will be Penryn of Wethel, a shepherd who is forced to climb the ranks. It will not be centered around either The Boy or The Wolf; the Boy is confirmed not to return due to his assumed young age.
- Stronghold 2 characters will not return.
- Most of the story will be narrated through interactive pre-rendered cutscenes.
If you still got questions remaining, don't panic. Hit us up in the SH4 sub-forum to discuss your ideas, or anything you want to clarify.
Until next time, my lord! :-]
Crusader Definitive Edition: Upcoming Summer Update
Posted on 9th Jul 2026
Hello All!
With Stronghold 4 having taken a spotlight for the last few weeks, Crusader DE was forced back in the shadows. Not anymore though, as news of the Summer Update has surfaced with a new teaser from Firefly Studios. This humble content update is planned to release on August 4, 2026.
Following suit, the Summer Update brings two-fold content in the form of free contents and paid DLC contents respectively. The downloadable content: The Surgeon and Baibars will be available for purchase at the cost of 5 EUR / 5 USD / 4 GBP on Steam.
Note: Kindly be advised that the Summer Update is scheduled to be the last one that is about to bring new content in the game, concerning the devs. Additional content will still be available via the Steam Workshop and alternative sources.
Contents - Free Update
- 3 new maps
- A new cooperative trail (Dance of the Scorpions)
Contents - DLC
- New Sands of Time Trail: Trail of the Vulture
New AI opponent: Sultan Baibars
- Sultan of the Mamelukes, Baibars is the literal panther of the desert: he will attack and defend ferociously, while neglecting his economy somewhat.
- His square-shaped castle features medium-sized towers, as well as a large Round Tower with double crenellations on the walls, and all sorts of nasty traps in the perimeter.
- Wields a streamlined Arabic-Bedouin mix of troops, with a particular emphasis on Eunuchs and Arabian Swordsmen. Also seems to deploy Tunnelers for assaults.
New AI opponent: The Surgeon
- A more mysterious, kind-hearted opponent who likes to build his domain with a sprawling and thriving economy, similar to the Emir or the Trader.
- His enclosures are densely packed with an average-sized industry, surrounded by Round Towers with Ballistae on top, as well as Killing Pits in generous supply, as well as Moat in his larger designs.
- Uses European ranged units to defend with Pikemen, backed by an overall preference to Skirmishers.