Stronghold 4 is scheduled to arrive on Steam on December 7, 2026, as an Early Access release. Firefly Studios announced the date on October 8, and Steam’s listing shows the same date while marking the game “Coming Soon To Early Access.” A Free Build demo is available now; Skirmish Mode is scheduled to join it on October 19 during Steam Next Fest.
When does Stronghold 4 come out?
Firefly Studios announced that Stronghold 4 releases on Steam on December 7, 2026. Steam’s current listing confirms the date and identifies the release as Early Access, not the game’s full 1.0 launch. The store page currently says the game is not yet available. See Firefly Studios’ announcement and the Steam listing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Stronghold Collection - PC | $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - PC | $27.29 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Stronghold Games Finished | $19.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Stronghold Games Space Cadets Away Missions Board Game | $99.04 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Tropico 3 - PC | $14.56 | Buy on Amazon |
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Firefly and Steam identify Steam as the release platform in the cited announcement and listing; they do not announce another platform there.
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Firefly says the demo is available from October 8, 2026, beginning with Free Build. Skirmish Mode is scheduled to arrive in a later demo update during Steam Next Fest on October 19, 2026. That means the two modes do not become available at the same time. Check Firefly’s announcement for the rollout details.
#1 Best Overall
- Stronghold - The original, award-winning castle sim that takes players through medieval Britain as they lead strategic military and economic expansion, defend against invaders, and conquer enemy castles.
- Stronghold 2 - The King, having fled after the defeat of his own armies, is now attempting to rule his country from a secret location. Powerful barons are jostling for what is fast becoming a disintegrating kingdom, and it is up to you to stem the tides of their ambition and unite the land again under the King.
- Stronghold Crusader and Stronghold Crusader Extreme - Journey to distant Arabian lands and lead a determined group of Crusaders. Relive the historic Crusades in four campaigns as Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, the Sultan of Syria. Stronghold Crusader Extreme adds 20 new missions, new buildings and larger armies of 10,000 troops.
- Stronghold Legends - Play as epic leaders throughout history, including King Arthur and the forces of Camelot, Siegfried and Dietrich in the German Ice Campaign, and Vlad Dracul and his evil forces in Transylvania.
- ESRB T Teen for images of Blood and Violence
What kind of game is Stronghold 4?
Firefly describes Stronghold 4 as a narrative prequel set years before the original game, following Penryn of Wethel. Its advertised features combine a cinematic campaign with castle building and customization, medieval economic management, and siege systems. Steam’s developer-provided description lists a 22-mission campaign, skirmishes against eight CPU opponents, a skirmish trail, custom skirmishes, and Free Build. It also advertises larger maps and weather effects that can affect crops and archery. These are listed features, not independent performance or review findings. More detail appears on the Steam store page.
What is planned for Early Access and version 1.0?
Steam’s current developer-provided Early Access description says Firefly expects Early Access to last around six months, but warns that the estimate could change. The planned initial build is described as including the 22-mission prequel campaign, full skirmish mode with eight CPU opponents, Free Build, and a curated skirmish trail. These are plans rather than guarantees.
Rank #2
- Diplomacy is key - Build up your small town, maintain trade relations, and make claims on land and villages
- Use wise planning to for mining operations, resource gathering & food production - plus the occupations of the various settlers
- Plan a road system for transporting goods effectively - and to help your people prosper
- Upgrade buildings, hire entertainer and organize fairs - all to improve the economy & match up male & female settlers
- Build walls to keep out enemies, and defend against invasion with military actions
For version 1.0, the store page lists online multiplayer, a cooperative skirmish trail, an economic campaign, and updates shaped by player feedback. It also says the price may rise during Early Access as features and content are added; it does not establish a specific price or a fixed schedule for those changes. Check the Steam listing for the current plan.
Stronghold 4 PC requirements
Steam lists the following Windows PC requirements. They are the current store specifications, not independent benchmarks, and may change before release.
Rank #3
- It Is A 1 Player Game
- 30 Minutes Average Playtime
- Country Of Origin :Germany
- Package Weight :0.5Lbs
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 | 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4670 or AMD equivalent | Intel Core i5-7600 or AMD equivalent |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 3 GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 with 6 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
| Storage | 33 GB available space; SSD recommended | 33 GB available space; SSD recommended |
These are the requirements currently shown on the Steam page; check it again closer to release in case Firefly updates them.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- A Latin music soundtrack, as well as a variety of online-functions such as high scores or visiting islands belonging to other players.
- Comprehensive campaign with 15 different missions, and mission generator for random map creation.
- A variety of business sectors to dabble in, including: Tourism, petroleum, mining, agriculture, etc.
- A timeline editor allowing you to create your own fictive historical events or enter real ones and avatar functionality allowing players to wander the island as El Presidente and change the course of play.
- Interactive functionality including, political speeches, edicts and "other" means of influence, as well as a wide range of editing and modification functions.
Rank #4
- It's you and your friends against the Little Green Men from Space!
- Over 100 high-quality plastic figures
- Map tiles reconfigure to create endless varieties of missions
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