Firefly Studios announces Stronghold 4 Early Access date

Firefly Studios has announced that Stronghold 4 will enter Early Access on Steam on December 7, 2026. The upcoming medieval real-time strategy game serves as a prequel to the original 2001 title, set in medieval England.

The narrative campaign will follow a character named Penryn and includes 22 missions. While the Early Access period will feature the campaign, skirmish modes, and free building, other features such as multiplayer, co-op skirmishes, and an economic campaign are planned for later updates.

Developed using Unreal Engine 5, the game aims to return to the series' roots with a focus on castle customization, production chains, and defensive tools. The studio intends to use the Early Access phase to gather community feedback for balancing and quality-of-life improvements.