Up to date November 2024: This story has been up to date with the brand new availability of Stardew’s 1.6 replace.
The favored farming sim and final cozy sport Stardew Valley dropped a serious replace on Tuesday after months of anticipation. Stardew’s 1.6 replace has an insane quantity of latest content material that touches each space of the sport, from new menus and DIYs, to a brand new farm format, new crops, and the power to have a number of pets and play with seven associates without delay. It’s sufficient updates to make the sport really feel recent, nevertheless it isn’t so new which you can’t ease again right into a beloved farm and toil away.
As of November 4, 2024, the free replace is obtainable for gamers on all platforms. The replace was initially solely obtainable for PC gamers utilizing Steam, nevertheless it’s now obtainable for console and cellular gamers too. If you do not have the sport but, you’ll be able to buy it on Steam for $15 for PC, Linus, and Mac computer systems, or the store to your console of alternative, just like the Nintendo Retailer ($15) or Xbox Retailer ($15). You too can buy it for cellular within the Apple Retailer ($5) or Google Play Retailer ($5) to play in your cellular gadgets. There aren’t any cross-saves, so every platform can have its personal information and farms.
As quickly because the PC replace arrived again in March, I opened up Stardew Valley and began a file with the brand-new farm format (which has me very broke) to dive proper in. The replace additionally works in your current Stardew information, and I’ve been bouncing forwards and backwards between my brand-new file and a later-game file to see what’s new in several seasons. All over the place I look, I see one thing new. Moss to forage off bushes! New reactionary dialog from NPCs! A prize machine within the mayor’s home!
In the event you hate spoilers, I’m truthfully undecided why you learn this far, however you must positively cease studying. I’m about to let you know about among the greatest modifications I’ve noticed since taking part in the up to date sport.
Screenshot courtesy of Nena Farrell
Ranch Mode
The largest change to see straight away is the brand new farm format. Stardew’s 1.6 replace provides the Meadowlands Farm, a grass- and animal-focused design for my fellow animal ranchers. This farm grows a particular blue grass that sport creator Eric Barone says animals will love. It may increase animal’s hearts sooner, enhancing the eggs and milk they provide you. There’s much less farming land obtainable, and some modifications to preliminary quests. I’m having fun with the Meadowlands Farm to date—I instantly created one when the sport dropped–though beginning with two chickens and no parsnip seeds is unquestionably a slower path to the infinite wealth I am searching for. However though I am broke, it’s nonetheless been enjoyable to have such a distinct begin to the sport.
Screenshot courtesy of Nena Farrell
Contemporary Crops
The primary query my sister requested me after I began taking part in: “Are there new crops?” At first, I advised her no. I didn’t see something new to buy within the store. However there are new crops with the replace–you simply gained’t discover them in any shops.
As an alternative, you discover 4 new crops (one for every season!) in just a few alternative ways—primarily, digging them up from the bottom within the sport’s well-known Artifact Spots, though spots with these new crops have a barely totally different fashion you’ll be capable to spot. You too can win them within the brand-new Prize Machine within the mayor’s home, when you get your hand on a prize ticket. The brand new crops are carrots for spring, summer time squash for (shocker) summer time, broccoli for fall, and powdermelon in winter. These new crops can be utilized within the sport’s essential quest, too. Simply select Remixed Bundles for the Neighborhood Heart in your beginning settings.
