Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone is preparing for the launch of the 1.6 update for Stardew Valley, the beloved farming and life simulation game. However, players eager to experience all the new features in their full context might consider starting a new save file.
Barone recently revealed that Stardew Valley 1.6 has expanded beyond its originally planned size, which was announced in April 2023. Initially focused on modder improvements to future-proof the game, subsequent teasers from Barone hinted at a more comprehensive update.
Among the teased additions are peculiar storage solutions, pets adorned with hats, and a vibrant New Year event featuring fireworks, along with various other fixes and improvements. The developer confirmed that Update 1.6 is now content-complete and undergoing final polishing before its anticipated release later this year.
Given the abundance of fresh content, some players have questioned whether starting a new game is necessary to fully appreciate all the additions in 1.6.
In response to a player pondering whether to abandon their Year 2 farm, Barone suggested that while continuing from a Year 2 save would still showcase most of the new content, starting a new save file would be ideal for a more immersive experience.
In a recent tweet, Barone mentioned, “Continuing from a Year 2 save won’t be a problem since you’ll see most of the new content that way, but I still might recommend a new file just for fun and to see everything in context.” As excitement builds for the upcoming release, players are anticipating countless more seasons of immersive rural life in Stardew Valley.
