Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone says the Stardew Valley 1.7 update is already in development and is shaping up to be the biggest update the game has ever had. He said the patch is "jam-packed" and that players can expect it sometime next year.
Barone made the comments during a Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, giving fans a fresh sign that the next major version is moving forward. The timing matters because the new update is being discussed now, not as a distant idea, but as a project with a likely release window attached to it.
What makes the claim stand out is the scale. The 1.7 update may be bigger than Stardew Valley 1.5 and 1.6, two releases that already added regions, festivals and more. Barone also said Clint and Sandy are just the tip of the iceberg, which points to far more than the two romance options that have already drawn attention.
That is where the uncertainty sits. Barone was clear that the update is large, but he did not spell out exactly what will make it the largest. A new farm type is part of the plan, but beyond that he left the details open, which means the real extent of the content is still being kept under wraps.
For players, the immediate takeaway is simple: Stardew Valley 1.7 is real, it is being worked on, and it is not being framed as a small follow-up. The next milestone is next year, when the update is expected to arrive, though Barone gave no narrower date than that.
Barone is also working on Haunted Chocolatier, but for now the clearest message is that Stardew Valley is getting another major expansion, and this one could end up setting the new benchmark for the series.
