Stronghold Patch and Version Information

The current Stronghold version is Patch 1.2, which can be download here for Windows or here for Mac.

The standalone version of Stronghold Crusader is currently updated to patch version 1.1. Installations of Stronghold Crusader with Stronghold Crusader Extreme are updated to patch 1.2, which is not downloadable. This patch was probably necessary to enable Crusader Extreme gameplay, but this patch does not appear to change anything about normal Crusader gameplay.

Stronghold Warchest comes fully patched for its content.

Stronghold Crusader Extreme’s current patch is 1.2.1 which can be downloaded here at Filefront or here at GamersHell.

If you aren’t sure if you need a patch then click here for the Do I need to patch guide?.

Types of Stronghold

by firewrks

Click on the matching cover for patch and release information.


Common questions:
Who is Firefly Studios?
Who is Take2 Interactive?
Who is Gathering of Developers (GoD)?
Who is Global Star Software?
Who is Macsoft?
Do I need to apply a patch?
How do I identify the Global Star release of Stronghold or Stronghold Crusader?
Why do I get a “CD Not Found” error after installing the patch?


Who is Firefly Studios?
Developers of the games. They actually code, test and generate the media that is the game.

Who is Take2?
Take2 Interactive is the original publisher of Stronghold and Stronghold Crusader. Take2 is the parent company of Gathering of Developers and Global Star Software. Essentially Firefly Studios writes the game and Take2 physically makes it. Take2 actually pays for printing of boxes, manuals, publicity, pressing of cds. Whether for video games or books, this is what a publishing company does.

Who is Gathering of Developers (GoD)?
Gathering is a subsidiary of Take2 Corporation. They have offices in New York, Baltimore, Austin and Berkshire (UK).

Who is Global Star Software?
Global Star Software is a wholly owned subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. They handle the publication of discounted Take2 software. They are also the current publishers of Stronghold and Stronghold Crusader. This publisher utilizes a different cd copy protection and games already come with features and fixes of the Strongholdv1.2 and Crusader v1.1 patches.

Who is Macsoft?
Macsoft handles the publication of the Macintosh version of Stronghold. This release is supported through atarisupport.com.

Do I need to apply a patch?
For Stronghold v1.2 Patch:
Yes for these versions: Stronghold; Stronghold Deluxe; Stronghold (MAC).
No for these releases: Stronghold (Jewel Case), Stronghold Warchest; Stronghold & Tropico Bundle.
For Stronghold Crusader v1.1 Patch:
Yes for these releases: Stronghold Crusader.
No for these releases: Stronghold Warchest; Stronghold Crusader (Jewel Case).

OR
use the Do I need to patch guide?.

How do I identify the Global Star release of Stronghold or Stronghold Crusader?
The Global Star Release can be identified by “Global Star Software” or “www.globalstarsoftware.com” printed near the UPC (bar code) on the packaging.

Why do I get a “CD Not Found” error after installing the patch?
With the exception of mechanical or driver failure of the CD/DVD drive, the most likely cause is applying the patch to a Warchest or Global Star Software release version. In the case of Global Star Software release, the CD copy protection implemented on the cd is different to the Take2 release versions. When the patch is installed, Stronghold.exe/Crusader.exe is overwritten with a Stronghold.exe/Crusader.exe that looks for the older Take2 cd copy protection. When the Stronghold.exe/Crusader.exe fails to find the CD copy protection, the “CD Not Found” error occurs. Both the Warchest and Global Star releases are already patched to Stronghold v1.2 and Crusader v1.1.


Stronghold

by Take2
Release Date: October 19, 2001

This release is no longer published. If you happen to
have this release, then install the version 1.2 patch. This version
is also compatible with the version 1.1 patch.


Stronghold Deluxe

by Take2
Release Date: June 26, 2002

This release is no longer published. Stronghold Deluxe not only comprises the economic campaign and 21-mission combat campaign featured in the original game of Stronghold, but also includes additional extensive maps with lots of sieges, economic missions and invasions. With exclusive castles from the Excalibur pack, you can reconstruct ruthless sieges of famous strongholds: Camelot, Mordred’s fortress, Tintagel, Edinburgh, Koblenz Stolzenfels, the Tower of London and more.

This release is probably compatible with the version 1.2 patch.


Stronghold (Mac)

by MacSoft
Release Date: March 15, 2002

This is the only Stronghold release for Macintosh. There is a MAC only v1.2 patch available from atarisupport.com


Stronghold: Crusader

by Gathering of Developers
Release Date:: July 31, 2002

This is the original release of Stronghold Crusader. This release is no longer published.


Stronghold (Jewel Case)

by Global Star Software
Release Date:: November 8, 2003

This is the release of Stronghold causing all the confusion. If you have bought a copy of Stronghold within the last year or so, then it is most likely the Global Star release. This release comes both in the standalone Jewel CD case and Stronghold “Black” style box.

This release is already updated with fixes and features from the v1.2 Patch. Installing the v1.2 may cause the “CD not found” error to occur. Since this release uses a different form of cd copy protection, the “Stronghold.exe” created by v1.2 patch looks for a different type of cd protection than the one present. Hence, “Stronghold.exe” gives the “cd not found” error message.

This release can be identified by “Global Star Software” or “www.globalstarsoftware.com” printed near the UPC (bar code) on the packaging.


Stronghold Warchest

by Take2 Interactive Software
Release Date: July 11, 2003

This release is the one you should be buying. This comes with everything found in all other releases and an additional Stronghold Crusader Campaign. Stronghold is already patched to v1.2, thus does not need patching. Stronghold Crusader already has the bug fixes and features of the Crusader v1.1 patch. Since Stronghold Crusader has additional Warchest only features, this Stronghold Crusader is incompatible with the Crusader v1.1 patch.


Maximum Strategy: Stronghold & Tropico Mucho Macho (Jewel Case)

by Global Star Software
Release Date: January 23, 2004

Since the bundled software is published by Global Star Software, this release is the same as the “Stronghold (Jewel Case) “

This release is already updated with fixes and features from the v1.2 Patch. Installing the v1.2 may cause the “CD not found” error to occur. Since this release uses a different form of cd copy protection, the “Stronghold.exe” created by v1.2 patch looks for a different type of cd protection than the one present. Hence, “Stronghold.exe” gives the “cd not found” error message.

This release can be identified by “Global Star Software” or “www.globalstarsoftware.com” printed near the UPC (bar code) on the packaging.


Stronghold Crusader (Jewel Case)

by Global Star Software
Release Date: March 4, 2004

This is the release of Stronghold Crusader that is causing the confusion. If you have bought a copy of Stronghold: Crusader within the last year or so, then it is most likely the Global Star Release. This release comes both in the standalone Jewel CD case and Stronghold “Black” style box.

This release is already updated with fixes and features from the Crusader v1.1 Patch. Installing the v1.1 may cause the “CD not found” error to occur. Since this release uses a different form of cd copy protection, the “Crusader.exe” created by the v1.1 patch looks for a different type of cd protection than the one present. Hence, “Crusader.exe” gives the “cd not found” error message.

This release can be identified by “Global Star Software” or “www.globalstarsoftware.com” printed near the UPC (bar code) on the packaging.