Stardew Valley was first released for PC in 2016 and has grown every year with updates to offer more players a cozy place to escape and forget about their stressors. With update 1.6, it’s unclear if a new save file is required to enjoy any of the new content, or if you can keep up an old farm.
The fact that Stardew Valley has been delighting players for eight years seems unbelievable considering its humble beggings. Though the beloved farming sim owes much of its success to the continued support of its developer, Concerned Ape. The latest and perhaps final update for the game is Stardew Valley 1.6 — the patch we’re all preparing for.
As with every update that’s come before, it’ll add a tonne of brand new moments with characters, the world, and the player’s farm to uncover. However, a lot of players will be unsure if they need to start a new save file to play or enjoy it for fear of missing out on some of the new content.
Is a new save file required for Stardew Valley 1.6?
No, you don’t have to start a new save file to enjoy most of the new content in Stardew Valley 1.6. Eric Barone, also known as Concerned Ape, confirmed this on Twitter, where fans reached out regarding save files for the update. However, the developer does recommend players start a new save file for fun. It’s a good excuse to clear out some of those forgotten Stardew Valley mod-testing save files.
Specifically, one player noted their current Stardew save is in Year 2. Barone explained players will see “most of the new content” in such a save, though not all. For that reason, and as someone who likes to see everything updates to his favorite games have to offer, I’d recommend all players do start a new save file for Update 1.6. By doing this, it gives everyone a chance to live through those opening hours once more, even if there’s barely anything new there, and live through the ultimate Stardew Valley experience. You never know if this is going to be the final update, so it pays to make your first time with it count.
When does Stardew Valley 1.6 release?
Stardew Valley 1.6 will be released on March 19, 2024, for PC, Mac OS, and Linux. Console versions will follow shortly after. The update adds a lot of new content for players to uncover. However, most of this has been kept a secret by Concerned Ape so that players can find the new dialogue, features, and systems as they play. I personally prefer it when developers do this because it gives me something to look forward to in an update that hasn’t been spoiled or explained weeks in advance.
The details of the update that have been shared so far highlight how players will experience new events, a new farm type, additional dialogue, extra rewards, and a whole new endgame loop that involves the core skills. I’m sure every change will be listed in detail once players get their hands on the update’s game files.
