Stardew Valley is celebrating its eighth anniversary today, and developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has marked the occasion with exciting news: the long-awaited 1.6 update has a release date! PC players can expect the update on March 19th, with console and mobile releases following shortly after.
Originally described as a modest, modding-focused update, 1.6 has grown substantially since its announcement in June 2022.
Barone has revealed a plethora of new content, including new festivals, items, crafting recipes, dialogue lines, a new farm type, late-game content, winter outfits for villagers, a larger chest, and even an 8-player co-op on PC. Notably, players can also look forward to hats for their beloved in-game pets.
In a recent progress report, Barone confirmed the update’s completion of major new content and assured fans of its release within the year. Now, with an exact date set, players can eagerly anticipate diving into the new content.
Expressing gratitude to the community for their support, Barone shared his excitement for players to explore the update themselves. While patch notes will be available on launch day, Barone encourages players to discover the new features firsthand. He suggests starting a new game to experience everything in context, especially with the introduction of the new farm type.
With Stardew Valley’s success, including over 30 million copies sold, and exciting projects on the horizon, such as a worldwide concert tour and an official cookbook, Barone credits the players for the game’s thriving community.
As fans await the 1.6 update, they reflect on the journey since the last major content update over three years ago. While Barone initially shifted focus to his next project, Haunted Chocolatier, he later redirected his attention to Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update. With the release date approaching, Barone expresses his dedication to delivering an enriching experience for players and eagerly anticipates their return to the valley.
