Stardew Valley isn’t done evolving. Creator Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, revealed on December 17, 2025, that the upcoming 1.7 update will include more character and social content plus a new farm type following what he calls tradition. This comes months after he confirmed the update was happening at a Stardew Valley concert in August, though he cautioned fans that it would take a while to finish. With version 1.6 bringing massive additions in 2024, the farming sim community is buzzing about what else Barone has planned for the game that refuses to stop growing nine years after launch.
What We Know About 1.7
A fan asked ConcernedApe on X (formerly Twitter) for any hints or sneak peeks about the 1.7 update. His response was characteristically brief but tantalizing. There will be more character and social stuff, he explained, plus a new farm type since it’s traditional to add one with major updates. He emphasized there’s lots more coming but doesn’t want to reveal much yet, keeping the community guessing about what surprises he’s cooking up.
The character and social content could mean anything. New dialogue for existing NPCs? Additional heart events that deepen relationships? Entirely new characters joining Pelican Town? Maybe more festivals similar to the Desert Festival that arrived in 1.6? Barone’s deliberate vagueness leaves everything on the table. The social simulation aspects of Stardew Valley have always been as important as the farming, so expanding relationship mechanics and character depth would align perfectly with what makes the game special.
The New Farm Type Mystery
Stardew Valley currently offers seven farm layouts, each encouraging different playstyles. The Standard Farm provides balanced space for everything. The Riverland Farm challenges players with disconnected islands and limited tillable soil. The Forest Farm spawns hardwood stumps and forageables. The Hill-top Farm includes a mining area. The Wilderness Farm adds combat with monster spawns at night. The Four Corners Farm suits multiplayer with distinct quadrants. The Beach Farm from 1.5 prevents sprinklers on sand but offers oceanside fishing.
Version 1.6 added the Meadowlands Farm focused on animal husbandry with grass growing faster and chickens able to live outdoors year-round. So what’s left? Fan speculation runs wild. Maybe a farm that emphasizes NPC interactions and community building since Barone mentioned social content? A greenhouse-focused layout for year-round crop growing? An urban farm in Zuzu City? A mountainside farm with terraced fields? The possibilities feel endless, and Barone clearly enjoys keeping players guessing.
Why Farm Types Matter
New farm layouts dramatically change how you approach Stardew Valley. They’re not just cosmetic differences. The Beach Farm fundamentally alters early-game strategy by removing sprinkler functionality on most tiles, forcing reliance on manual watering or creative layout planning. The Wilderness Farm adds survival pressure through nightly monster attacks. Each farm type creates distinct challenges and opportunities that encourage multiple playthroughs with different focuses.
When Is It Coming?
Don’t hold your breath. ConcernedApe has repeatedly emphasized the 1.7 update will take a while, with no release date or even estimated window. He announced the update at the Stardew Valley concert in August 2025, confirming it was happening but urging patience. In September, he warned fans he doesn’t want too much hype at this point because the update is still deep in development.
There’s additional complexity because Barone is simultaneously working on Haunted Chocolatier, his next game that’s been in development since being announced in 2021. He’s stated the 1.7 update might delay Haunted Chocolatier a little but not as much as you might think. He also explained he doesn’t want to be just the Stardew Valley guy, yet still feels personal drive to make the farming sim even better almost a decade after launch. Balancing two major projects means neither moves as fast as fans might hope.
The 1.6 Update Set A High Bar
Version 1.6 launched for PC in March 2024 before rolling out to consoles and mobile throughout the year. It added massive amounts of content including the Meadowlands Farm, eight-player multiplayer, new festivals like the Desert Festival and SquidFest, over 100 new items, new crops, a drinking skill, additional dialogue for all NPCs, new fish, new craftables, new decorations, and countless quality-of-life improvements. It fundamentally changed the late-game experience and gave players reasons to start fresh saves.
That’s a tough act to follow. Can 1.7 match that scope? Probably not if it arrives sooner rather than later. Should it try? Maybe not. Not every update needs to be massive. Stardew Valley already offers hundreds of hours of content. Sometimes smaller focused updates that deepen existing systems work better than throwing everything at the wall. The community would likely be thrilled with meaningful character content and one great new farm type even without 100 new items.
The Switch 2 Factor
ConcernedApe is also working on a Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley launching alongside Nintendo’s new console. That version will include mouse controls and four-player local co-op, features the original Switch version lacked. He’s promised to announce something about the Switch 2 edition very soon and apologized for the long wait. Whether the 1.7 update launches simultaneously with the Switch 2 version or separately remains unclear.
One improvement Barone is targeting for 1.7 is simultaneous cross-platform release. Version 1.6 arrived on PC months before console and mobile players got it, creating frustration and community fragmentation. He wants to minimize that gap this time, though achieving true simultaneous release across PC, consoles, and mobile is notoriously difficult given different certification processes and technical requirements for each platform.
What Fans Want Most
The Stardew Valley community has long wish lists for future updates. More romanceable NPCs tops many requests, especially LGBTQ+ options and characters from underrepresented demographics. Expanded spouse content ranks high since married life can feel repetitive after the wedding. Kids growing beyond toddler stage has been requested for years. More late-game automation to manage massive farms would help perfectionists. Additional world lore and deeper character backstories appeal to players who treat Stardew Valley as narrative experience.
Quality-of-life improvements always generate excitement. A fourth backpack upgrade for more inventory space. Better automation for animal care. Ability to gather hay when silos are full. Auto-complete for simple fetch quests. Design mode that lets you plan layouts without placing objects. These small improvements dramatically enhance the playing experience without requiring massive new content. Sometimes the best updates fix annoyances rather than adding features.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Stardew Valley 1.7 update release?
There’s no release date or estimated window. ConcernedApe confirmed it’s happening but warns it will be a while before it’s ready. Don’t expect it in early 2026.
What’s included in the 1.7 update?
More character and social content, a new farm type, and lots more that ConcernedApe isn’t revealing yet. Specific details remain secret.
Will 1.7 be as big as the 1.6 update?
Unknown. Version 1.6 was massive with over 100 new items and major features. The scope of 1.7 hasn’t been disclosed, but it may be more focused on quality over quantity.
Is 1.7 coming to all platforms?
Yes. ConcernedApe wants to minimize the gap between PC, console, and mobile releases this time, though achieving true simultaneous launch is challenging.
Will the 1.7 update delay Haunted Chocolatier?
Possibly a little, but ConcernedApe says not as much as you might think. He’s working on both projects simultaneously.
What’s the new farm type?
ConcernedApe hasn’t revealed anything about it. Speculation includes farms focused on social interactions, greenhouses, urban farming, or mountainside terraces.
Can I play 1.6 now on all platforms?
Yes. Version 1.6 rolled out to PC in March 2024 and reached consoles and mobile throughout the year. All platforms now have it.
Is Stardew Valley getting a sequel?
No. ConcernedApe is making Haunted Chocolatier as his next game, but it’s a separate project, not a Stardew Valley sequel.
The Game That Never Stops Growing
Stardew Valley launched in February 2016 as a solo passion project from Eric Barone after four years of development. Nine years later, it’s sold over 30 million copies across all platforms and continues receiving major free updates that many developers would charge for as DLC or sequels. The 1.7 update represents Barone’s ongoing commitment to a game that defined his career and changed countless players’ lives. That dedication feels increasingly rare in an industry focused on live service monetization, annual releases, and planned obsolescence. Stardew Valley doesn’t need updates to remain profitable. It’s already a massive success that continues selling steadily. Barone updates it because he wants to, because he’s still passionate about making it better, and because he genuinely cares about the community that embraced his creation. The mystery around 1.7’s content keeps speculation alive and excitement building. Will we get new romance options? Deeper character arcs? A farm type that completely changes gameplay? We won’t know until Barone decides to share more or the update suddenly drops with minimal warning like previous patches. That’s part of the charm. In an era where games announce content roadmaps years in advance and data miners spoil surprises months before release, Stardew Valley still manages genuine mystery. Whatever 1.7 brings, it’ll be free, substantial, and made with the same care that transformed a solo developer’s indie project into one of gaming’s most beloved experiences. That’s worth waiting for, even if the wait takes a while.