Stronghold: Warlords will allow players to control AI commanders across the battlefield.

From the 3rd century BC China through to the coming of the Mongol Empire in 1200 AD, Stronghold: Warlords allows players to relive famous historical battles and sieges against great khans, imperial warlords, and shogun commanders.

Stronghold: Warlords is Firefly’s first Stronghold to recreate the castle economies of the Far East. Stronghold: Warlords lets you take command of Mongol hordes, imperial warriors, tribal fighters and samurai clansmen as you lay siege to Japanese castles and fortified Chinese cities. Besiege historical rulers using new gunpowder-fuelled siege weapons, classic units and a completely new way to play Stronghold.

Firefly Studios has released 30 minutes of gameplay from the military campaign of Stronghold: Warlords, the latest in their classic ‘castle sim’ series. Featuring never before seen units, siege weapons, grand strategy mechanics and economic gameplay, this developer playthrough gives fans their first in-depth look at a full mission from the game.

This new developer-led gameplay video showcases a full campaign mission set in 238 BC China, featuring both the legendary Qin Shi Huang and infamous rebel warlord Lao Ai. In the mission players must recover a stolen seal by besieging Lao Ai with the aid of local warlords, new gunpowder-fueled siege weapons and unit types. As a vertical slice of the full game the demo includes more recent additions to the series including new units, siege weapons and warlord mechanics, in addition to an expanded castle economy:

• New warlord types with the ability to besiege enemies, provide supplies and buff armies
• Siege weapons like the Hwacha, Fire Ox, Catapult and Rocket Cart
• Unit types including incendiary Fire Lancers, Generals and Mongolian Horse Archers
• New economy features like Spirit and resource chains such as Silk and Tea

Combining the first ever use of gunpowder in the Stronghold series with incredible historic weaponry and the new grand strategy warlords mechanic, this new gameplay demo gives players a flavor of things to come. The demo also features new production chains and economy mechanics unique to Vietnam, China, Mongolia, and Japan — firsts for the Stronghold series as a whole. Adding a fresh layer of resource and management gameplay has been a core goal since the start of development and players can expect even more sim gameplay in the final release.

Whether they decide to decimate Lao Ai's fort with Hwachas, Fire Oxen, and classic Catapults or sit back and let their warlords attack for them, players can expect a devastating display of gunpowder-fueled destruction.

For the first time ever Stronghold: Warlords allows you to recruit, upgrade and command AI warlords across the battlefield with their own unique perks and characteristics. Each warlord under your command boosts your control of the battlefield allowing you to fortify borders, forge weapons or team up for a pincer attack! Each campaign mission, skirmish game, and multiplayer battle means a fresh set of warlords to command and new strategic depth. By unlocking more powerful castles, armies and abilities each Warlord has the potential to disrupt the flow of battle and turn the tide in your favor.

Stronghold: Warlords is scheduled for release on PC in 2020.