Years after its launch, Stardew Valley has grown a reputation as one of the most successful indie games around. Created by solo developer Eric Barone, Stardew Valley continues to draw in gamers of every skill level, as its charming world and addictive gameplay loop have made it not only a beloved farming sim, but one of the most celebrated titles of the 21st century.
Last year, Barone released the long-awaited 1.6 update for Stardew Valley, adding tons of new content. After such a substantial update, many assumed that Barone would step away from Stardew Valley for a while to pursue his first original project since the life sim, Haunted Chocolatier. This doesn’t seem to be the case, though, as 1.7 will eventually become a reality, and while it may be unlikely, the perfect release date seems obvious.
Stardew Valley's 10th Anniversary is Right Around the Corner, Paving the Way for the Perfect 1.7 Launch
- Stardew Valley turns 10-years-old on February 26, 2026.
Hitting the scene back in 2016, Stardew Valley has almost reached a full decade of post-launch life, which is no easy feat, especially for an indie game. Often, games can come and go without achieving any real staying power, but Stardew Valley has continued to evolve, which has drawn in new players year after year. Although update 1.7 has been confirmed, Barone has no intention of revealing a release date any time soon, and he’s even made it clear that it could take a while. However, in a perfect world, Stardew Valley‘s 1.7 update would be the perfect way to celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary.
A 10th anniversary is a major milestone for any game, and with Stardew Valley‘s growth showing no signs of stopping, there’s no telling how many copies will be sold in the next decade. Unfortunately, releasing 1.7 on Stardew Valley‘s 10th anniversary is highly unlikely, since Barone has made it clear that he and his team have been working at a relaxed pace in order to ensure the update is as well-crafted as possible.
While originally a solo endeavor, Barone has had a small team helping him with Stardew Valley updates since 1.3.
Barone is Currently Balancing Two Projects
Between Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier, Barone has his hands full. In an official blog post addressed to fans worried about 1.7 taking too much time away from Haunted Chocolatier, he stated, “With 1.7, I have been trying to take more of a ‘creative director’ role in the team, so that (at least for now) I can focus the vast majority of my attention on Haunted Chocolatier.”
Barone also made it known in the blog post that Stardew Valley‘s next round of content probably won’t arrive any time soon. He added, “But with our ‘no release date’ approach to the 1.7 update, it’s not certain when that time will come. It might even be after Haunted Chocolatier comes out.” So, unless Haunted Chocolatier is a lot further along than Barone has been hinting, 1.7 may be a long time away.
Stardew Valley has sold over 41 million copies.
With 1.7, I have been trying to take more of a ‘creative director’ role in the team.
Stardew Valley Can Still Celebrate its First Decade in Big Ways
It’s unknown if Barone has any plans to honor Stardew Valley‘s upcoming milestone, but it could be the perfect stage to make other reveals that aren’t a 1.7 launch. He and the rest of the team could reveal deeper details regarding the update, or there could even be another trailer for Haunted Chocolatier released. Only time will tell, but whatever Barone and his team have up their sleeves, it’s likely well worth the wait.