https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBTyVgTS3Nk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8IEZyeK-8U
Discover what the future holds for Stronghold and Firefly Studios as a whole with two recent videos, linked above and available on the Firefly YouTube Channel. Join us as we cover a number of developments that will positively impact the way we develop and release our games going forward.



Firefly is undergoing an epic period of change, with everything from a physical office relocation and new game engines, to fresh updates on the future of Stronghold and a brand new entry in the works. For full details please watch both of the above videos, where Nick explores the reasoning behind these developments and what it will mean for our developers and players.



With time comes progression, especially in such a rapidly-growing industry, but one thing that will remain constant is our commitment to making the best possible experiences for our players, new and old. By investing in infrastructure and technology, we feel the next chapter of Firefly is an exciting one and we can’t wait for you to see what comes next!



Accompanying this technical shake-up is an organisational one, as you may have heard already Firefly Studios has been acquired by Devolver Digital! A world-renowned game publisher and friend of Firefly, Devolver acquired the studio in 2021 and has been supporting us ever since. With their background in championing innovative videogames and our shared history, Devolver was the ideal parent company for our studio and yet another reason we're looking ahead to a promising future.

With big things on the horizon, fans of the Stronghold series will have plenty to look forward to. As always, stay tuned for more information about the Stronghold series and Firefly Studios.

Stronghold: Warlords v1.10 Hotfix - 12 April 2022
Build Number: 1.10.23986

General Fixes

• Fixed a crash that could occur when destroying Fear Factor buildings after knocking back their assigned workers

Today we are pleased to announce the release of Stronghold: Warlords Ultimate Edition! Combining the latest version of the game, 10 post-release updates, 4 DLCs and all Special Edition content, Warlords' Ultimate Edition is the complete package for Stronghold players looking for the most missions, maps and medieval goodness.



Packaging the base game with every DLC and free update, released as part of Warlords' post-launch roadmap, the Ultimate Edition has it all. Enjoy a whopping 9 historical campaigns, 20 warlords, 8 AI opponents, 28 skirmish maps, 18 units, 10 siege weapons and 45 extra missions set across 3 skirmish trails. This is in addition to other free content added since launch such as Extreme Difficulty mode, custom AI invasions in Free Build, increased troop limits and more!



The Ultimate Edition also comes packed with all Special Edition content, which includes a feature length making of documentary, orchestral soundtrack from series composer Robert L. Euvino, a digital art book and bonus copy of Stronghold HD.



Today's release represents the end of Warlords' post-launch roadmap and our current plans for the game. We've thoroughly enjoyed exploring the rich and varied history of East Asia over the past four years and can't wait to reveal what comes next. For all that and more stay tuned to Firefly Studios' YouTube, where we'll be providing development updates, early previews, reveals and Q&As as the future of the Stronghold series takes form.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

We have just released a new content update which adds an extra AI opponent (Fu Hao), a new 20 mission Skirmish Trail, 3 new maps to battle across in skirmish mode and multiplayer, the new Lion Warlord and achievements. This free update has been released alongside the launch of our Warrior Queen Campaign DLC, now available on Steam!

Stronghold: Warlords v1.10 Fu Hao Hotfix - 02 February 2022
Build Number: 1.10.23933
Update Size: 4.1 MB

General Fixes

• Fixed an issue where dead AI would still send Overlord messages in Skirmish games
  
• Added handling for Canadian Multilingual Standard Keyboard

Stronghold: Warlords v1.10 Fu Hao Hotfix - 27 January 2022
Build Number: 1.10.23909
Update Size: 11.0 MB

General Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Mission 3 instead of Mission 1 was unlocked at the start of Trail of the Tyrant.
  - Please note: Handling has been added to avoid players losing progress if they already played or completed missions in Trail of the Tyrant, which should mean all missions are now playable without losing progress.
  
• Fixed an issue where AI controller was still active on a player estate in Windy Plains
  
• Fixed an issue where the AI could ‘commit suicide’ by placing a tower on top of themself
  - We are 99% sure this is fixed but if anyone sees this again please let us know!
  
• Edited Muddy Route to allow more pathable area around player estate, which previously lead to the AI often disbanding siege equipment
  
• Fixed missing difficulty warning from the Fu Hao campaign
  
• Fixed incorrect balance labels on skirmish maps

Stronghold: Warlords v1.10 Fu Hao Update - 25 January 2022
Build Number: 1.10.23892
Update Size: 326.4 MB

Updates

• Added Fu Hao AI Lord
  
• Added 3 new Skirmish maps
  - Windy Plains - Ideal for allied Lords to face off against another team, this tightly fit battleground atop the steppe will prove challenging for some players more than others.
  - Muddy Route - 4 players will find themselves stuck fast in the deep muds, with little space to build their economy but plenty of open ground for fighting.
  - Island Tensions - There's no respite from warmongering neighbours in this highly unequal island. Grab a warlord if you can and be prepared to defend them.
  
• Added New Skirmish Trail ‘The Trail of the Tyrant’
  
• Added The Lion Warlord
  - The Lion Warlord exudes strength and leadership. Harnessing the power of the Lion will bolster your sieges, sending shivers down the spine of your enemies.

Balance Changes

• Re-balanced all Warlord Shipment edicts for consistency
  
• Re-balance all Warlord attack and relief force edicts for consistency

General Fixes

• Fix for Campaigns screen showing Difficulty screen and placeholder UI text if the last campaign played is no longer available
  
• Fixed floating walls that could result when loading a save game made during AI/Warlord wall build
  
• Fixed the scribe sending “A message from” before all campaign overlord messages
  
• Fixed an issue where dead players are selectable in the diplomacy map
  
• Fixed crash when exiting the score screen after multiplayer games
  
• Fixed warlord workers getting stuck when spawning from a wooden warlord keep
  
• Siege towers as well as ladders now teleport troops to safe positions after docking
  
• Fix for ranged units sometimes losing their attack targets if they didn't have LOS once having moved into range.

AI Changes

• AI clans will now always move to targets within short distances, even if the target requires a roundabout route which is longer than that normally allowed.
  
• Skirmish AI no longer build woodcamps next to workshops, to avoid blocking off worker access to the workshops
  
• Fixed some cases where AI buildings could block off worker access:
  - Weapons workshops no longer place to the right of the military academy
  - Gunpowder workshops no longer place in front of walls
  - Woodcamps no longer place in front of walls
  - Woodcamps no longer place next to workshops
  
• Fix for AI siege weapons sometimes getting stuck when the rest of the invasion they're in has been killed.
  
• Improved AI for moving over walls
  
• The AI now checks an extra tile north (and on each outer access tile) when designing gates in its castles, to fix cases where the AI thought it could place a vertical gate whose outer access tiles were actually blocked off.
  
• Fix for AI rocket launcher clusters getting stuck if they don't have a free space to move away from the rest of the clan to

Map Editor

• ‘Suppress Scribe’ now works to stop the Scribe saying “A message from” before campaign overlord messages
  
• Added a new scenario event trigger, which detects whether a building exists at a given marker position

Update: While our big v1.10 update and Warrior Queen Campaign DLC will launch as planned on January 25th, the release of Stronghold: Warlords' Ultimate Edition has now been delayed to February 14th. We apologise for this delay but hope you enjoy the free content and DLC campaign, both still releasing next week!

On Tuesday January 25th 2022 we'll be releasing our final set of Stronghold: Warlords content - A massive v1.10 update and the Fu Hao Campaign DLC, followed by a new bundle in the form of Warlords' Ultimate Edition!

Available next week v1.10 will be a free update for all owners of the game, while the Fu Hao Campaign DLC will be available to purchase alongside the upcoming Ultimate Edition, the best option for players who don't yet own Warlords and want all the DLC.

High priestess and military general Fu Hao is our final addition to the roster of AI opponents available in Stronghold: Warlords. Mixing auxiliary class troops such as Archers and Axemen, with the heavier likes of Imperial Cavalry, Crossbowmen and Guardsmen, Fu Hao comes out swinging with a strong well-rounded army that is effective in both the early and late game.

For this legendary strategist a castle siege is about bringing siege engines with high power and rate of fire to the front line, protecting them for just long enough to punch a hole in your defences and pour her armies through before you know what happened! In order to siege Fu Hao you will need to get past eight medium towers filled with troops, along with powerful Ballistae and Mangonel platforms.



Skirmish Trails have been a popular post-launch feature for Warlords, where many spend their time outside the main campaign and custom skirmish, so it simply wouldn’t be a final update without the addition of our longest skirmish trail yet! To that end we're adding an epic 20 mission odyssey across 12 maps, including all 8 AI lords and each of the 12 warlords available in our upcoming version 1.10.

The ‘Trail of the Tyrant’ is designed to employ every addition made to Stronghold: Warlords since launch, from new units and warlords to AI opponents and more. Some of the most beloved games in the Stronghold series are remembered for their epic-length mission trails and with the addition of Warlords’ ‘Tyrant Trail’ the game now features 45 skirmish trail missions in total.



It wouldn’t be a content update without an all-new map pack and v1.10 is no different, with three unique maps bringing the total number of skirmish battleground to a whopping 28. That's in addition to 4 Free Build and 500 community maps available via Steam Workshop.

First up there’s Muddy Route - A medium sized four player map in which players will find themselves stuck fast in the deep mudflats. With little space to build your economy but plenty of open ground for fighting, this map should provide players with a challenging, but rewarding route to multiplayer victory.

Next is Windy Plains - A five player, medium sized map ideal for allied lords to face off against a rival team. This tightly-fit battleground atop the magnificent steppe, will prove challenging skirmishes for some players more than others with starting positions and resource locations acting as a handicap of sorts.

Finally we have Island Tensions - This six player map accommodates five warlords and, as the name suggests, plenty of tense combat across its land.



Version 1.10 will also add a new free warlord in the form of the Lion Warlord, in addition to the release of two paid warlords (Eagle and Dog) made available as part of the Warrior Queen Campaign DLC.

A known rival to the Wolf Warlord, the Lion Warlord stands for justice above all else. Marching out to besiege his enemies with great power at his disposal, the Lion is relentless. True to his name, the Lion takes care of his pride with a perk that provides a damage boost to all infantry serving a warlord under the control of a player. As for his infantry and your choice of edicts, The Lion Warlord can provide swords, samurai and siege weapons.



Chronicling 15 years of ancient Chinese history, The Warrior Queen Campaign brings to life a legendary commander and pivotal force in history. From counter attacks and all out assaults against the invading Tu-Fang tribe, to the Qiang Fang presence in the north and countless other adversaries, this new campaign attempts to capture the full breadth and grandeur of Fu Hao’s achievements on the battlefield.

Expect six challenging missions putting everything you’ve learnt so far to the test, including new gameplay twists such as the addition of the powerful Eagle and Dog Warlords. Step into the role of one of the most powerful and impactful military leaders history has to offer.



With the January 25th release of Fu Hao, our final map pack, Lion Warlord, third skirmish trail and final DLC, followed by the Ultimate Edition on February 13th, Stronghold: Warlords will soon be content complete. We hope you’ve enjoyed playing our monthly post-release updates, get a blast out of v1.10 and look forward to the future of the Stronghold series!

The feedback we’ve received, through comments on Steam and our recent Stronghold player survey, has been invaluable in setting a course for the future of Stronghold and something we’re constantly mindful of. We’re planning to be even more open with the development of Stronghold games going forward and will be planning plenty of teaser videos and dev diaries before anything is formally revealed.

This will kick off with next month’s ‘Firefly Studios in 2022’ feature, the first of many behind the scenes videos where we confirm new and exciting information about future projects as it happens. If that sounds interesting and you'd like to learn more join us on Discord and YouTube for the latest Stronghold news.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

Stronghold: Warlords v1.9 Hotfix - 5 January 2022
Build Number: v1.9.23740
Update Size: 4.1 MB

General Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Ninjas would incorrectly remain invisible after loading a save game

Stronghold: Warlords v1.9 Hotfix - 20 December 2021
Build Number: v1.9.23662
Update Size: 4.2 MB

General Fixes

• Fixed a multiplayer desync that could occur when Ninjas are initialized
  
• Fixed an issue where walls would sometimes be floating after loading a save game made during AI/Warlord wall build. (Note: applies only to new saves)

We have just released our new v1.9 update for Stronghold: Warlords, which includes the Minamoto no Yoritomo AI opponent, extra achievements, new maps and an increased total troop limit in offline skirmish mode of up to 1,000 units!

Stronghold: Warlords v1.9 Update - 24 November 2021
Build Number: v1.9.23494
Update Size: 644 MB

Updates

• Added Minamoto no Yoritomo AI Lord
  
• Added 3 new Skirmish maps
  - Forest Clearing - Rival lords peer through the thick trees to see the clearing in front of them, only to discover the dangers they must prepare for.
  - Winding Path - Three lords battle to hold strategic positions. Who will make the right calls at the right times and emerge victorious?
  - Open Borders - Each Lord will need to build their castle well, as the lack of hard borders will require a fully fortified defense. Two Lords sit above the other four, but fate will decide if this is an advantage or not.
  
• Added option to Have ‘No Warlord’ in Skirmish/Multiplayer games
  - Click on a Warlord on the minimap and select the ‘No Warlord’ option to not spawn a Warlord in that estate
  
• Added Custom Troop limit in Skirmish lobby
  - In Advanced Options, users can now select a total troop limit of 500, 600, 800 or 1000.

General Fixes

• Fixed an issue where a Warlord relief force could cause a crash in specific circumstances
  
• Fixed Spirit tooltips to report information in a more understandable manner
  
• Prevented Ninjas displacing each other when climbing up or down walls
  
• Improved Laddermen groups' wall edge selection and distribution when docking. They can now be commanded to dock along walls even if individual segments of wall are broken.
  
• Fixed a crash relating to tunnel components tracked by paths
  
• Changed lantern particles to be more lightweight/performant

AI Changes

• Fixed a bug with AI clans which could cause them to move very far around obstacles to reach a target
  
• Reduced the distance AI clans are willing to walk around obstacles to reach a target, so they are less prone to winding through maze-like castles
  
• AI melee troops are now much harder to distract when attacking walls
  
• AI melee troops are less susceptible to being drawn a long way off their intended target by kiting enemy troops
  
• Skirmish AI will now sell surplus gunpowder and build more gunpowder workshops
  
• Stopped AI ninjas from attacking walls
  
• Stopped AI laddermen from attempting to dock at walls which already have a ladder on them.
  
• Fixed an issue where AI would delete all wood camps once a single woodcutter could not find a tree to cut down, even if there were other trees still available
  
• Fixed a bug where ninja invasions could get stuck near their formup target
  
• Fixed a bug that could prevent AI Gatehouses being placed if they were right on the edge of the estate
  
• Fixed an issue where AI would not place new mines/quarries/ox tethers when they ran out of space for other buildings
  
• Improved the pathing of AI armies travelling long distances, making siege weapons in particular less susceptible to falling behind the rest of the army.

Map Editor

• Warlords can now be set to level 6 in the map editor

Today's update has been released alongside the launch of our Rise of the Shogun Campaign DLC, which adds six missions and two warlords to the Stronghold: Warlords base game. Both the update and DLC are now available with a 10% launch week DLC discount.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1615012/Stronghold_Warlords__Rise_of_the_Shogun_Campaign/

It's finally here! Our Autumn and Winter content roadmap for Stronghold: Warlords has been revealed and with it new AI lords, maps, fixes, optimisations, skirmish trail missions and warlords. As with our previous two content roadmaps, today's reveal shows the updates you can look forward to in the coming months and the general order in which you can expect them. That is of course with the news that we'll be turning our eye to the future of Stronghold, after our final Warlords update has been released.



During development and in the year post-release we've made a number of improvements and adjustments to Warlords, working with the community to launch and iterate on our latest castle sim. While we have many exciting ideas and ambitions for the future of the series - more on that as it happens - we still have plenty of dry gunpowder when it comes to new Warlords updates. So for our final roadmap we're doubling down on our most popular post-release content. This includes new AI opponents, further increasing our map count and more single player content in the form of our longest Skirmish Trail yet!

There are a few other community-requested features on the horizon (not outlined below), however we'll keep those as a surprise...



We hope you've enjoyed our eight updates so far and look forward to our remaining plans for Stronghold: Warlords development in the Autumn and Winter period. There is an exciting future ahead for Stronghold and we can't wait to share our plans, for now however please enjoy these new updates!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/907650/Stronghold_Warlords/

Complete a new time-limited Halloween survival mission! Available until November 2nd 2021, players must defend their castle from increasingly difficult waves of mythical AI invasion. After this date the mission will disappear... However both the Jiangshi and Terracotta Warriors will remain available as selectable AI Invasions in Free Build mode, making them permanent additions to the base game.

Stronghold: Warlords v1.8 Update - 26 October 2021
Build Number: v1.8.23206.D
Update Size: 422.6 MB

Updates

• Added new Halloween mission ‘The Dark Mist’
  - Halloween mission is playable from 26 October through 2 November
  
• Added 2 new Freebuild invasions
  - ‘Terracotta Army’ - Made up of new special unit (Terracotta Warriors)
  - ‘Ghosts’ - Made up of new special unit (Jiangshi)

General Fixes

• Optimised stalls created by path distances being calculated through long maze like structures
  
• Optimised AI troop tile-based pathfinding from main thread to pathfinding thread
  
• Fixed AI clan attacks becoming interrupted when encountering barricades
  
• Fixed a bug where players could receive infinite food if food is delivered via stashes or events with no granary placed
  
• Fixed an issue with the way buildings would stamp their height layers when on raised terrain.
  
• Fixed a crash that could sometimes occur when farms are destroyed

Inspired by tales from the crypt, Chinese folklore and history, our new Halloween update is now live! Erect your defences and prepare for a supernatural slaughter, as you brave our terrifying new mission and fresh enemy units in the form of the Jiangshi and Terracotta Warrior. Customise your castle and ready your army for magic and malice unseen since the days of Stronghold Legends! Warlords now features a time limited challenge in the form of our new survival mission featuring new enemy units, with these horrors permanently added to the game's Free Build mode as spooky AI invasions.



The name of the game in our new mission is survival, as you're pitted against a relentless onslaught of castle invasions and new foes that are almost certainly not of this world. Use Peace Time wisely as you outfit your defences for the days to come... With the knowledge that each foe is an opposite side of the same supernatural coin. A weakness to one could be a strength to the other. So experiment with fire, fury, steel and diseased animal carcasses as you pinpoint their vulnerabilities to hold back the hordes of undead!

Whatever you do, never underestimate a single Jiangshi. For although they may be isolated from the pack, they are ever as deadly...



We hope you enjoy today's update and are as excited as we are about this otherworldly content addition! The team thoroughly enjoyed researching and designing these spooky spectres, bringing them to life in Stronghold: Warlords in our biggest Halloween update yet. Please enjoy and look forward to more Warlords updates in the Autumn and Winter months, with a full content roadmap reveal coming in November.

Happy Halloween and Happy Jiangshi Hunting!