I’ve sunk more hours into Stardew Valley than I care to admit, and after the 1.6 update landed in March 2024, one question has been buzzing around my little farm like a very persistent bug: will there ever be a 1.7? Now that we’re in 2026, the honest answer is still “maybe, but not soon.” ConcernedApe has made it clear that nothing is actively planned for another major update, yet he refuses to say the book is closed. As a player, I find that equal parts reassuring and maddening.
For anyone just coming back to Pelican Town, the game has been remarkably alive since its 2016 launch. Over the years, creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has kept adding major features: new maps, new areas, more romance options, and even online multiplayer. The 1.6 update was especially generous, introducing new festivals, a mastery system, and a pile of smaller tweaks. Since then, minor updates have pushed the game to version 1.6.15 and added things like alternate mine layouts and extra spouse reactions. In short, the farm still gets tended.
But if you’re hoping for a huge 1.7 drop in 2026, I have to pump the brakes. In an interview with PC Gamer, Barone said there are currently no concrete plans for another major Stardew Valley update. The exact line, “Nothing is planned but I'm not going to say the book is closed,” is about as clear and as vague as it gets. His attention has mostly shifted to Haunted Chocolatier, his next game, so Stardew Valley’s future beyond small patches is unconfirmed.
That doesn’t mean the game is dead, far from it. Minor updates have continued to roll out, doing quiet but meaningful work: bug fixes, gameplay changes, and occasional new content. Still, for the foreseeable future, those small patches are what players can reasonably expect. A full 1.7 update isn’t on the calendar.
Honestly, I’ve been through this before. Stardew Valley has had multiple supposedly “final” major updates, much like Terraria keeps getting “one last” update. Barone himself said it “would be foolish” to rule out a 1.7 or beyond. That gives me hope, but it also means there’s no way to predict how long we might wait. The gap between 1.5 in 2020 and 1.6 in 2024 was four years, so even if another major update happens, it could be a long haul.
In the meantime, there’s still a ton to do. The base game is a bottomless time sink, the modding community is thriving, and newer farm-life competitors such as Fields of Mistria are now around in early access. And let’s not forget Haunted Chocolatier, Barone’s next project, which is where his creative energy seems to be flowing these days.
Here’s a quick look at the situation heading into 2026:
| What we know | What it means |
|---|---|
| No major update is planned | Don’t expect 1.7 soon |
| Minor updates continue | Bug fixes and occasional content still arrive |
| Barone’s focus is on Haunted Chocolatier | Stardew’s future is on the back burner |
| “Book isn’t closed” | 1.7 could still happen eventually |
| 1.5 to 1.6 took four years | Next major update might take a long time |
So, should you hold your breath for Stardew Valley 1.7? I wouldn’t. But should you close the barn door forever? Also no. That’s the funny thing about this game: it keeps pulling us back in, season after season.
For now, I’m just going to keep watering my crops, checking the mines, and pretending I don’t have a backlog. If a 1.7 update ever shows up, I’ll be ready. If not, Stardew Valley has already given me more than enough.
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