https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8rBcwNsN_o
We're celebrating Firefly Studios' 20th Anniversary with a feature length documentary about the history of the Stronghold series! Featuring 12 interviews with our founders, producers, artists, programmers and marketers, we take you through the entire history of the series. From the first alpha build of Stronghold in 1999 through to Stronghold Crusader 2 and our upcoming project Stronghold Next, set to be revealed at E3 2019.



So whether you're a hardcore Stronghold fan who's been with the series since day one or an RTS fan looking to find out more about Stronghold Next, this documentary tells you everything you need to know about our medieval strategy games. From the brutal and bloody sands of the Crusader games to the grandiose magic of Legends and the new setting of our next game in the series, this is our entire development history as told by the creators themselves.



So relax, pour out an ale and treat yourself to double rations as we recount the game dev tales of the Stronghold series in preparation for the grand reveal of our brand new castle sim next week at E3 2019.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjGMt9b3ats
The biggest gaming show in the world is soon upon us and Firefly Studios will be revealing the next Stronghold game in June at E3 2019. Check out our final Stronghold update before the show to learn how Nick and company will be unveiling our brand new RTS. Just to tide players over we also reveal a whole host of new information regarding the reveal itself, our post-E3 plans and when you'll be able to get your hands on the game!

With the help of a bunch of white cards with poorly written notes on them Nick explains among other things how you can get your hands on exclusive Firefly merchandise. Find out where we'll be taking our Stronghold Next demo, when you can wishlist the game and whether we've left any clues as to the setting...

If you find this final Stronghold Next update just isn't enough to fulfil your strategy gamer curiosity then check out our full playlist below. Featuring Q&A's, interviews, developer updates and all the behind-the-scenes goods you could hope for related to our next entry in the 'castle sim' series.

Want more?

1. Be the first to see our full Stronghold Next gameplay reveal by subscribing to Firefly Studios on YouTube.
   
2. Check out our Stronghold Next playlist, which we'll be updating with new videos in the coming weeks and months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn9YOBHFDqk
Christmas may be over but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy cheap castle sieges!

To celebrate the launch of Steam's third Lunar Sale we've created a sequel to last year's hit Lunar Sale video! Things get dark and our Marketing Manager may never be the same again, but you'll want to stay to the end to find out just what happens to this brave soul. Watch as he comes face to face with a truth no one can handle... Playing classic discounted Stronghold titles one last time.

Happy Lunar New Year! In case you hadn't already realised the Stronghold series is currently on sale on Steam. Get up to 90% off Stronghold titles with 50% off the new Steam Edition of Stronghold 2 and a whopping 80% off fan favourite Stronghold Crusader HD:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/40960/Stronghold_2_Steam_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/40970/Stronghold_Crusader_HD/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/232890/Stronghold_Crusader_2/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/40950/Stronghold_HD/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/40980/Stronghold_Legends_Steam_Edition/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/901735/The_Stronghold_Collection/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/47400/Stronghold_3_Gold/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/297920/Space_Colony_Steam_Edition/
http://store.steampowered.com/app/606870/MetaMorph_Dungeon_Creatures/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s056tKEWa5M
Not only will you be feasting your eyes on a full Stronghold Next reveal this spring, you'll also be getting a brand new game announcement next week! Unrelated to Stronghold but still a classic Firefly Studios strategy game, this new title will be announced on YouTube on Thursday February 7th.

It gives us great please to finally reveal both that our Stronghold Next reveal is planned for the spring and that we're taking Stronghold to E3! You can expect to see a load of Stronghold Next gameplay and news this year, starting with the world's best known gaming expo. We can't wait to show you what we've been working on in the form of an official Stronghold Discord, feature length documentary, behind the scenes videos and plenty of raw gameplay.

For our other fans we have a brand new game reveal planned for next week, as well as plenty of Stronghold Kingdoms updates. Our new title will be another historical strategy game featuring classic Firefly gameplay mixed with a few new innovations, so stick around for the full announcement! Kingdoms players meanwhile can look forward to a healthy dose of updates, new worlds, tournaments and more throughout the year.

Want more?

1. Be the first to see our full Stronghold Next gameplay reveal by subscribing to Firefly Studios on YouTube.
   
2. Check out our Stronghold Next playlist, which we'll be updating with new videos in the coming weeks and months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7O_5HqU_fc
Following our extensive Mega Q&A series we’re rounding off the year with a full development update for Stronghold Next! We dive into the production, programming, art and design of Next in our first ever dev diary for the upcoming castle sim. Watch as four Stronghold developers provide a snapshot of where we’re at in terms of production, as well as revealing brand new details about the game!

Player feedback is already a huge part of the development for Next and in our end of year update we go into specifics. We’re improving castle walls, adding classic castle life features, a more cinematic single player campaign and more. In addition the team are planning technical improvements including staged destruction for your castle, better textures and of course all-new units with fresh animations.

Want more?

1. Be the first to see our full Stronghold Next gameplay reveal by subscribing to Firefly Studios on YouTube.
   
2. Check out our Stronghold Next playlist, which we'll be updating with new videos in the coming weeks and months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTAGMUJNF54
Multiplayer! Units! Defenses! Our latest and greatest Stronghold Next video reveals brand new details by answering 40 of YOUR questions about the game. Join Nick and Aaron for a detailed discussion about our upcoming castle sim, guided by player questions posted under previous Stronghold Next videos and Q&As.

Ahead of our full production update from the development team next week, today Firefly's community staff shine a light on a few finer details requested by fans. How many Lords can join a multiplayer game? Will there be healing units? Will regular troops be able to knock down castle walls? Together these smaller issues make a huge difference to each Stronghold, so we're taking the opportunity to lay out our plans at this early stage.

Want more?

1. Be the first to see our full Stronghold Next gameplay reveal by subscribing to Firefly Studios on YouTube.
   
2. Check out our Stronghold Next playlist, which we'll be updating with new videos in the coming weeks and months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0F7W-JO9To

This week we're back with another episode of the Stronghold Showcase! This new series sees us 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:

- ORDER 69
- FOOTBALL FIELD
- LORD OF THE ISLES
- SCANDENAVIA
- FLOWER


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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdfAhvP6ZVM
This week marks the return of our 'Making Of' series with the grand finale, The Making of Stronghold Crusader 2! So get comfy while you wait for Stronghold Next as Nick, Simon and Paul once again take you through the adventure of returning to the desert once more, preparing Firefly Studios for future Stronghold titles in the process. Watch as we delve into the decade-long inception of our most recent 3D Stronghold game and discuss learnings for the next game in the series.

Did any secret features end up on the cutting room floor? Why did we develop Legends over Crusader 2 way back in 2005? What was it like self-publishing a sequel to everyone’s favourite Stronghold game? What does the future hold for Stronghold? Paul and Simon discuss living up to the hype of fan favourite Crusader, operating without a publisher and how Firefly Studios has learnt from the various challenges Crusader 2 presented.

If you liked this latest episode in our ‘Making Of’ series make sure you subscribe to our official channel for future installments and check out previous trips down memory lane in Stronghold: The Early Years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rB3rOml_Nc


Rest in peace Nick… Today our Marketing Manager sacrifices himself to bring you Halloween updates for three separate Stronghold games! Celebrating this most unhallowed time of year your peasants have been cursed in Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold Legends and Stronghold 2. In Crusader 2 they are reduced to little more than dust and bones until All Hallows’ Eve, these lifeless subjects wandering decrepit castles in a dire state of disrepair. Tomb stones, rotting pumpkins, cobwebs and more adorn once magnificent castle structures, along with corrupt colours and unholy flames in the workshops of your medieval minions.



The return of the Stronghold Halloween Update and corruption of Sir William also means the curse once again falls on our Steam Edition games! Terrify your workers with horrifically impractical and yet somehow perfectly balanced pumpkin-head peasants or purge them from your castle with green wildfire. Keep them working to fight back against the curse or cower and wait for the horror to pass after Halloween has ended.



Our Stronghold Halloween updates are now available on Steam for players with the latest versions of Stronghold Crusader 2, Stronghold 2: Steam Edition and Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition. This event will last for one week with the above cosmetic changes in place until November 1st. After this the curse will fall, your peasants returning to normal, fire returning to its natural non-demonic colours and castles restored to their former splendour.

Happy Halloween!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTWf1hdEnw8
The Stronghold Next community Q&A series is back! In our fourth episode we answer a further 20 questions, all without spoiling the upcoming gameplay reveal planned for early 2019. While this won’t be our final Stronghold Next video of the year, it is currently our last planned Q&A. That said if we receive enough questions in the comments section we might just be convinced to do a bonus round!

This week we respond to your fan questions about the simulation and economic aspects of our new Stronghold game. How much micromanagement will you be doing? What can you expect in terms of difficulty for new and veteran players? Will Free Build feature AI invasions? Will the beloved Bessy return!? We cover all this and more including our plans to demo the game and how we’ll be updating you on development in 2019 and beyond.

Want more?

1. Be the first to see our full Stronghold Next gameplay reveal by subscribing to Firefly Studios on YouTube.
   
2. Check out our Stronghold Next playlist, which we'll be updating with new videos in the coming weeks and months.