While fans have known what’s in the Stardew Valley 1.6 update for some time now, there’s finally a definitive release date attached to the patch.
Stardew Valley was seemingly done with regular content updates with the awkward rollout of the 1.5 update and creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone starting work on a new game, Haunted Chocolatier. That turned out to not actually be the case once he announced that another major content update was coming to the game.
Though information about this new patch has been confirmed for years now, there’s been no official word about when it’s coming out beyond an occasional tease of progress from ConcernedApe. That changed with his official announcement of a release date for Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update.
Stardew Valley 1.6 update release date info for PC, Xbox, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch
Stardew Valley 1.6 will arrive on PCs on March 19.
This content update has been in the works for almost a year, with ConcernedApe announcing the start of development in April 2023. This came just several weeks after the post-release patching of the mobile release of Stardew Valley 1.5.
There’s no official release date for the Stardew Valley 1.6 update on Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, or mobile devices, but ConcernedApe stated that it will come out “as soon as possible.” Stardew Valley 1.5 arrived on PC in December 2020 with the Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch versions coming out roughly two months later in February 2021. Fans will likely get a relatively quick turnaround for the console versions.
Mobile Stardew Valley players may or may not be so lucky. Stardew Valley 1.5 didn’t come out on mobile devices until January 2023, more than two years after the initial PC release date. This is unfortunate given how Stardew Valley’s mobile version is one of the strongest ways to experience the game, thanks to the Android version’s modding support, but there may be a quicker turnaround with 1.6.
What’s actually in the Stardew Valley 1.6 patch?
Stardew Valley 1.6 will implement a major overhaul to the game engine while adding several new multiplayer features. This comes alongside other new additions including a new festival, different rewards for billboard quests, and new dialog with NPCs.
Here are some of the highlights of the 1.6 update:
- Eight-player multiplayer
- New festival
- Two “mini-festivals”
- New dialog with NPCs
- New seasonal outfits for NPCs
- New endgame questlines for those who align with Joja Mart
- Various bug fixes
The biggest addition will be the addition of eight-player co-op, alongside other features related to multiplayer. This includes bug fixes for improved stability and a new audio system that has dynamic volume based on the player’s proximity to the sound. This means that seven players chopping down trees at the same time won’t result in an overwhelming rush of sound.
While these are notable additions that will be enjoyed on all platforms, the biggest change will be a game engine overhaul that will offer greater flexibility to modders. Stardew Valley enjoys a robust modding scene, and these creators will be empowered further by changes that allow for even more facets of the game to be edited or overhauled. Unfortunately, only PC and Android players can play Stardew Valley with mods but console and iOS players will be able to enjoy the other additions that come with the 1.6 update.