Hey everyone, it's 2026, and I'm here to catch you up on all things Stardew Valley and ConcernedApe. You know, sometimes I just sit back and think about the incredible journey this game has been on. It's been nearly a decade since its debut, and the love for it hasn't dimmed one bit. Let me tell you about what's been happening behind the scenes lately, because it's a story of passion, balancing acts, and a creator who just can't seem to fully say goodbye to his digital home.

Remember the big 1.6 update? That was a whole saga in itself. Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone poured his heart into it, and bringing it to home consoles last November was a monumental task. I mean, it took so long—much longer than anyone, including Eric himself, expected. He even had to make a tough call: he paused work on his next big project, Haunted Chocolatier, for several weeks just to get the Stardew Valley update across the finish line on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. It was that difficult. Now, with 1.6 out in the wild on all platforms, you'd think he'd be diving headfirst back into his spooky chocolate shop, right? Well, yes... but also no.

Here’s the exciting news from just last month: at the Stardew Valley concert (yes, there are concerts now!), ConcernedApe announced that development has officially begun on Stardew Valley Update 1.7. 🎉

He was very clear that he can't give us a release date—not even an estimate. But he said with absolute certainty, "it's happening." That's the kind of promise we can hold onto. However, I think we all need to manage our expectations a bit. After the massive, foundational updates of the past, 1.6 was more about refinement and adding lovely bits of content rather than a complete overhaul. Given that, and given Eric's focus on his new game, it's very possible that 1.7 will be a bit smaller in scope. And you know what? That's perfectly okay. In fact, it's smart. By tempering expectations now, we can all just be pleasantly surprised by whatever wonderful things the update brings, whenever it arrives.

Now, what's actually in the 1.7 update? The honest answer, straight from the source, is: we don't know. There are no official details yet. It's a blank slate. But the how is perhaps the most interesting part of this story.

This is where the balancing act gets really fascinating. ConcernedApe has revealed that he won't be the sole developer leading the charge on Stardew Valley 1.7. Instead, a small team of other developers will be primarily making it. Eric's role? He'll be the creative director. This is a huge shift! It means he can guide the vision and ensure the update feels authentically Stardew, while freeing up his own time and creative energy. And what is he doing with that freed-up energy? He's pouring it all, by himself, into Haunted Chocolatier. This new structure is brilliant because it means Stardew Valley development shouldn't massively derail the timeline for his much-anticipated new game.

Let's talk about that commitment for a second. Even with a smaller, team-led update, we should never doubt that Stardew Valley will continue to grow. Eric has said, time and again, that this game is incredibly important to him. He's spent almost his entire career on it. In a statement earlier this year, he went so far as to say he has no intention of ever retiring from working on Stardew Valley. Can you imagine? He even mused that he might be interested in adding new features 50 years from now. That's not just a developer talking; that's someone talking about their life's work, their legacy. It's a profound level of dedication that you just don't see every day.

So, where does that leave us, the players, in 2026?

We have a game that is already, without a doubt, one of the most feature-rich and beloved indie titles ever created. It doesn't need more updates to be complete. Yet, we have a creator and now a team who are committed to supporting it for years to come. That in itself is something truly special and commendable.

To summarize the current state of play:

• Stardew Valley 1.7 is in development (led by a team, with Eric as director).

• Haunted Chocolatier is Eric's primary, solo focus.

• The future of Stardew Valley is secure for the long, long term.

Maybe the next update won't have the giant new region or the extra marriage candidates that some fans dream of. But given the incredible track record—the sheer amount of free, high-quality content we've received over the years—I think most of us are more than willing to give ConcernedApe and his team all the time and space they need. We trust them. We know that whatever comes, it will be made with the same care and love that has defined Stardew Valley from the very beginning.

So, I'll keep tending to my farm, maybe start a new save file, and patiently await news on both fronts. The world of Pelican Town is in good hands, and a new, haunted world is being carefully crafted just for us. What a time to be a fan. Only time will tell exactly what Update 1.7 holds, but one thing is for certain: the story of Stardew Valley is far from over.