Stardew Valley 1.6 polish phase: long wait over

Farming enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the Stardew Valley 1.6 update which enters its final polishing phase following a period of extended development. Creator Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone has explained that the delay is due to the update's larger-than-expected scope. While all new content has been implemented, the focus is now on debugging and refining. PC users can expect to receive the update first, but console and mobile versions will follow shortly after with minimal delay.

Barone advises players to start a new game to fully appreciate the new features, which include a significant expansion of existing content, over 100 new dialogue lines, new items and crafting recipes, and a fresh farm layout. The update promises smaller enhancements such as winter outfits for villagers and an enlarged storage chest capable of holding double the items compared to the regular chest. Additionally, players will discover new festivals, multiplayer support for up to eight players, and the possibility to upgrade their Scythe tool to Iridium level. Despite the broad strokes of the update having been shared, specific details remain elusive, with hope that a release timeline will soon be announced.

The 1.6 update promises a plethora of new features including a Big Chest for increased storage, a significant new festival, two mini-festivals, new crafting recipes, additional dialogue, winter outfits for villagers, rewards for completing billboard requests, a new farm type, expanded multiplayer support, enhanced late-game content, and even hats for pets. The upgrade for the Scythe tool is also anticipated.

Stardew Valley, developed by Eric Barone, is an indie farming simulation game released in 2016. Players take the role of a character who takes over a dilapidated farm, with tasks such as growing crops, raising livestock, crafting goods, mining ores, selling produce, and socializing with the townsfolk, including marriage and having children. The game has received widespread acclaim for its open-ended gameplay and has been continually updated with new content since its release, making it a mainstay in the indie game community.