Stardew Valley is getting another free content update

A couple of weeks ago, Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone revealed that he's working on two new games, both connected in one way or another to his hit farm life sim. There was much rejoicing (people really like Stardew Valley), to the point that Barone asked everyone to please calm down and let him work.

But that was then and this is now, and I guess now it's time to get all hyped up again because it turns out that along with those other two projects, Barone is also cooking up new stuff for Stardew Valley.

Thanks everyone for the Stardew Valley 4-year anniversary wishes. It's been a pleasure, and I look forward to another great year! Now that 1.4 is out on all intended platforms, I'd like to announce that there will be another free content update (1.5)..it's currently in the works!February 26, 2020

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Barone didn't say anything about what the 1.5 update might include, but given the heft of the 1.4 update, which added a huge number of new items, cosmetics, and monsters, 14 new music tracks, romance events, quality-of-life improvements, and an end-game mystery in an abandoned building, it's fair to expect that it will be significant.

We can probably also expect a patch coming sooner for some connection issues that resulted from the last update.

What I'd like to know, honestly, is where Barone finds the time and energy for all this. "[Game development] is extremely difficult and time consuming. Stardew Valley took me 4.5 years of working 60-70 hours a week," he tweeted in response to an inquiry on Twitter. But, he continued, "seeing your idea and world come to life before your eyes is extremely rewarding & satisfying."

I've emailed Barone to ask if he'd like to share any insights as to what's in store for Stardew Valley 1.5, and I'll let you know if he does.

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.