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Crusader: Definitive Edition - Winter Update Is Out!

Posted on 3rd Feb 2026

Greetings Everyone!

The Winter Update (v2.5) is out on time and it is now available for download on Steam.

Please make sure that you update to the latest version in order to access multiplayer via Steam (auto-updater).

Refer to the following detailing the announced features: Winter Update

Custom Lords and Trails 

As part of the update, the developers also include two tools - "Castle and CPU Lord Editor" & "Custom Trail Maker", which are available on Steam as a standalone application each. Much like our published editors hosted here on SHN, you can customise the existing AI Lords, as well as create your own Skirmish Trails consisting up to 50 missions. These are also added Steam Workshop functionality to share and access your content with other players.

Firefly Studios also implemented / borrowed some custom castles (like Evrey's Improved Castles from the UCP) for starters.

In order to access the editors, make sure to tick "Tools" in the Library filter:

Spectator Mode

Originally another UCP feature, Firefly implemented a spectator mode that lets you watch a cage match as the player, as the AI lords battle it out between each other.

New Maps and Coop Trail

As usual, Firefly added three new maps to the roster:

• Oasis Crossing: 600x600 Skirmish map
• Mind Games: 500x500 Skirmish map
• Approaching Seas: 700x700 Freebuild map

Additional Changes

• Extreme trail difficulty: AI Lords start the mission with their castles pre-built.
• Pinging option in multiplayer matches by Alt+P: this sends a blip on the minimap, which can be clicked to place the view on the exact location.
• The Sultan now hires Slaves for filling in enemy moat.
• The Jewel starts harassing with fewer knights.
• Various bug fixes covering missions, AI behaviour (such as the CPU incorrectly destroying his buildings when moat & drawbridges seal off its domain) and units.

Have fun with the new patch and editing, my lord! 🙂 

Crusader Definitive Edition: Winter Update

Posted on 20th Dec 2025

Hello All!

Firefly Studios recently unveiled details about their next "Winter" update for Stronghold Crusader: DE, which is scheduled to release on February 3, 2026.

Much like the Autumn Update, it will feature free additions to the base game, as well as a paid downloadable content called The Sergeant and the Lioness for 5 EUR / 5 USD / 4 GBP. Take a look at the contents below.

Contents - Free Update

• 3 new maps
• A new cooperative trail
• Custom Trail Editor
  • Create your own skirmish trail up to 50 custom skirmish missions, with a selection of opponents and maps tailored to your liking.
  • Trails can be exported and shared with other players too!
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• CPU Lord and Castle Editors
  • Akin to our editors offered for SH2 and SHL (as well as the UCP!), Firefly will also grant us the ability to customise the preferences and castle layout templates built by any AI opponent.
  • Both utilities seem to be standalone applications, with the Castle Editor visually greatly resembling its earlier counterpart for vanilla Crusader.
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Contents - DLC

• New Sands of Time Trail: Trail of the Cobra

New AI opponent: The Sergeant

• Metal man! An aspiring veteran of a "dozen campaigns", who earned fame in his battles  prefers his armored troops to chew through enemy defenses.
• Builds similarly to the Marshal, erecting large castles divided into multiple elongated quarters, and lots of towers on the sides.
• Seen using the sturdiest troops there are: Crossbowmen, Pikemen, Arabian Swordsmen, Demolishers.

New AI opponent: The Lioness

• A bloodthirsty but playful dame? She is the proclaimed "Queen of the Sands", being an all-rounder overall.
• Her castles are much like an upgrade on the Kahinah, featuring an outer wall, moat and better productivity.
• Seen using a mix of Arabic and Bedouin troops: Arabian Swordsmen, Arabian Bowmen, Skirmishers, Heavy Camels.