Stardew Valley 1.7: Essential Updates and Insights

Stay in the loop with the latest buzz and the best deals curated for gamers.

Your subscription is confirmed!

Want to explore more newsletters?

Get your weekly dose of everything you need to know about the games you love, upcoming titles we think you’ll enjoy, and stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Our dedicated GTA 6 newsletter brings you breaking news, insider insights, and rumor breakdowns from the experts in the field.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring analysis from seasoned writers, advice from industry professionals, and a glimpse into what’s on the horizon.

Tech enthusiasts, unite! Sign up for our free tech newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest innovations, cutting-edge gadgets, and much more.

Join our new Switch 2 newsletter for weekly updates on Nintendo’s upcoming console, including news and game recommendations.

Subscribe for a weekly roundup of essential movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox, including trailers, interviews, reviews, and more.

Get exclusive previews, competitions, and details about special events every month!

Surprise! The Stardew Valley 1.7 update is generating a lot of excitement as the beloved farming sim approaches its tenth anniversary. Creator Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone can’t seem to stay away from the farm life, and who can blame him?

While he’s tried to manage expectations and avoid creating “too much hype,” the community is buzzing with anticipation. It sounds like version 1.7 will be another significant update, featuring new farm types, blossoming romances, and various social changes. Here’s what we know so far about the Stardew Valley 1.7 update.

Currently, there’s no release date for the Stardew Valley 1.7 update. Major updates for the game usually come years apart, and while it feels like version 1.6 just dropped, it actually launched in March 2024. Those incremental 1.6x updates kept rolling in, though!

Barone hinted at the upcoming patch last year during the Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons tour and later confirmed on social media: “There will be a Stardew Valley 1.7 update. No release date, no estimate. But it’s happening.”

Regarding the update’s timeline and its overlap with Haunted Chocolatier, Barone reassured fans that while working on both games might create some challenges, it’s not as problematic as it seems. He acknowledged that he might have jumped the gun by announcing Haunted Chocolatier, but fans can always count on Stardew updates to deliver.

The 1.7 update will introduce two new romance options, but details are still under wraps. In an interview, Barone mentioned he would share more information on the game’s anniversary, which falls on February 26.

Stardew Valley currently features 12 romanceable NPCs, a number that has remained unchanged for years. While Shane and Emily were added shortly after launch, no new characters have been introduced as marriage candidates since then. It’s possible that the 1.7 update will allow us to pursue a romance with a familiar villager.

The community has seen mods that allow dating characters like the Wizard and Sandy, and there’s a growing demand for the option to romance Pam. Barone has expressed some regrets about not expanding the cast further, making this update a perfect opportunity to address that.

For those keeping track, there are still a few eligible characters like Gus, Clint, Linus, Marnie, Lewis, and Willy who remain unmarried.

Barone also mentioned he’s “trying to make the children a little more interesting” in the 1.7 update, a request frequently voiced by players. While the current farm kids are adorable, they could use a bit more depth.

Despite refining many concepts from earlier farming sims, expanding your family has remained relatively unchanged. Perhaps Barone is considering new family dynamics when he mentioned there would be “more character/social stuff” in the update.

A new farm type is also on the way in Stardew Valley 1.7, though details are scarce. The game already boasts eight diverse maps, each with unique skills, but more options are always welcome. It’s become a tradition for Barone to introduce a new farm type with major updates.

While the new farm type is a given, Barone has also expressed interest in adding a farm map editor that would allow players to share their designs publicly.

As someone who enjoys custom map mods, I’d love to see more options for the vanilla game. A map editor could provide even greater customization than expected, but for now, it remains a theoretical idea. Barone has acknowledged this possibility but remains uncertain about its implementation.

It’s no surprise that the creator of one of the most successful games ever is contemplating a sequel. Last year, Barone mentioned that a Stardew Valley 2 isn’t off the table—though it’s not driven by financial motives. He simply has a wealth of ideas for Stardew and isn’t ready to let them go just yet.