Stardew Valley’s 1.7 Update Promises Major Changes as Developer Suggests the Game Could Be a Never-Ending Journey

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the beloved farming simulator, Stardew Valley, creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone hints that he may have a decade’s worth of updates still in the pipeline. In a recent interview, he shared insights about the anticipated 1.7 update and teased the possibility of a Stardew Valley 2.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting news about the 1.7 update, which has been somewhat elusive since its announcement. Barone has mentioned that this update will introduce a new farm type and additional character-focused content, including some social elements.

In his conversation, Barone revealed that the update will address a “popular fan request” related to children, aiming to make them more engaging. He also announced that two new marriage candidates will be unveiled on February 26, coinciding with the game’s anniversary. Additionally, Barone has been considering the inclusion of a farm map editor and social features that would allow players to share their creations, though he’s uncertain if these will make it into the 1.7 update.

“There are plenty of other features in the update that fans haven’t specifically asked for,” Barone teased.

Interestingly, Barone is contemplating the future of Stardew Valley. While he’s working on a new project called Haunted Chocolatier, he acknowledges that he might not be completely finished with Stardew Valley. He describes Haunted Chocolatier as a sort of spiritual successor to Stardew Valley but worries that fans might expect it to be merely a rehash of the original.

“To be realistic, there have been many times when I thought, ‘This will be the last update,’ and then that never happens,” Barone admits.

If he continues to expand Stardew Valley, it likely won’t involve major mechanical overhauls. Instead, he envisions building upon the existing framework.

“There could always be more festival variants, additional dialogue, and deeper character development,” he explains.

He also considers the possibility of modifying certain core features, like the “awful” spiral level in the mines, though he’s cautious about how such changes might affect the game’s overall feel. He even mentions the idea of a “Stardew Classic” to cater to traditional fans.

Barone casually notes that he has begun work on a sequel but paused to focus on Haunted Chocolatier. However, Stardew Valley 2 remains a possibility for the future.

“I would love to create a whole new set of characters and a new world, capturing some of that original energy I had back in 2012 when I started working on Stardew Valley,” he shares.

Ultimately, the direction of future updates hinges on the ongoing popularity of Stardew Valley. With 50 million copies sold, Barone feels a strong sense of responsibility to his audience, even as he grapples with the challenge of moving on. The game continues to sell well, which keeps his inspiration alive.

“If everyone stopped playing Stardew Valley, maybe I wouldn’t feel as motivated to keep working on it… I know it’s the best way for my ideas to connect with others, and that’s why I create.”