The highly anticipated 1.6 update for Stardew Valley has been a major focus for creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone throughout this year. Since its initial release on PC back in March, over 150,000 players returned to the beloved farming sim to enjoy the new content. However, for months, the update has only been available to PC players, leaving console and mobile fans eagerly awaiting their turn.
The process of porting the update to other platforms has taken longer than expected, with Barone admitting that it even affected development on his next game, Haunted Chocolatier. After finally announcing a November 4 release date for console and mobile, some players were left wondering why it has taken so long, especially since the PC version was ready months ago.
Barone addressed these concerns in a recent tweet, explaining that he always releases updates on PC first as a kind of “beta test.” This allows him to catch any critical bugs—like save file issues—that would be harder to patch quickly on consoles. He added, “However, I never intended for the delay to be this long.”
Several small patches have already been rolled out on PC since the 1.6 update. These patches have tackled various minor bugs, including fixing a “creepy face” on a bear and adjusting item drop rates. The latest patch, 1.6.6, addressed balance issues and bugs like a disappearing raccoon and a game crash when speaking to Penny in French.
While the 1.6 update is packed with exciting new content, it’s clear that getting everything just right for the console and mobile versions has required a lot of fine-tuning. Barone, known for his meticulous attention to detail, is committed to delivering a polished experience, even if it means players have to wait a bit longer.
Fortunately, many players understand the delay. One fan commented, “Don’t worry about people being impatient or mean even though you’ve been working so hard on that update. Thank you for the set date, and I can’t wait to play!”
With the release date just around the corner, fans across all platforms can look forward to diving into the 1.6 update soon.
