LOS ANGELES, CA — Over a year after its 1.6 update, Stardew Valley is getting yet another surprise update. Solo developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barrone took to X earlier today to announce the new “Shirley Jackson” update, which should be arriving sometime later this year.
“I’m very excited for you all to experience the new festival, which takes place on day 27 of summer,” stated Barrone in his announcement, “Every villager will gather in the square and take part in a raffle. I’m not going to tell you what the prize is yet, but let’s just say you should head to the mines and load up on stone before the 27th!”
ConcernedApe also suggests that players should consider detaching themselves emotionally from the other villagers before the festival. “Take update 1.6 as a reminder that Stardew is a utilitarian game. It’s great that players form personal attachments for their in-game friends and neighbors, but remember that this town has traditions that demonstrably boost corn production, and those traditions take precedence over your personal feelings for others.”
But that’s not all! ConcernedApe also hinted at a new Farmhouse: “I’m just going to put this out there: you might be able to move into a house that, not sane, has stood for eighty years and might stand for eighty more. If you like upright walls, firm floors, and sensibly shut doors, get ready!”
Stardew fans took to social media to voice their excitement for the upcoming festival. “I can’t believe that after all these years, ConcernedApe is still coming up with new ideas,” posted Leahssweetcheeks00 on Reddit, “I’m so excited to see what fun shenanigans we get up to at this new festival! And oh boy, if we get more corn out of it, all the better.” On the Stardew Facebook page, one savvy commenter theorized that “this for sure will be the update that reveals that everyone in Stardew Valley has been dead all along.” And popular Stardew streamer BrickMeUpPierre speculated that “nothing could possibly go wrong with this new festival.”
The 1.6 update for Stardew Valley is scheduled to drop on June 26th, which is the anniversary of some old short story or something.
