Stardew Valley 1.7 update leaks "are fake," confirms ConcernedApe – and he has "no plans to ever add" Harvest Moon-style romance rivalries to the farming sim

With work on Stardew Valley and its 1.7 update underway, rumors of what it might harbor – aside from the already revealed two new marriage candidates – have been floating about.

According to creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, though, absolutely none of the online speculation is true… or, at least, there are no genuine "leaks" regarding 1.7. He says as much in a new post, writing, "Any claims that there are 'leaks' of 1.7 content are fake. There are no leaks."

It's a blow to hopeful fans' hearts, apparently, as many were holding out for features they had seen folks discussing on social media and the like.

One such player asks, "So does that mean no marriage candidates hooking up after year three if you don't marry them?" They explain it's the "only 'leak' I've seen," and that they "kinda wouldn't mind that one" if it indeed has any truth to it.
Sadly, however, ConcernedApe steps in to shut that one down, too. "I have no plans to ever add something like that," he comments. Had the leak been true, it would've added Harvest Moon-style romance rivalries. You know, those from the very farming sim series that inspired ConcernedApe to create his now-beloved Stardew Valley in the first place. Unfortunately, though, this is one piece of Harvest Moon (now known as Story of Seasons) that is apparently never making its way to the 2015 pixel-style genre gem.

But, alas, not everyone is disappointed – the replies consist of various jokes, from plays on the word "leek" to questions asking, "What about parsnips?"

There are also requests – and among them, there's one fan wanting a different Harvest Moon feature from ye olde farming sim days.

"I've always wondered if you would ever add anything like Farm Animal or Pet Competitions to the game," they write. "Series like Harvest Moon/SOS use them. If not, totally fine! I was just curious since our pets have hearts but no outward purpose for them." They do make a good point here.

I'd love some more animal and pet-related content in 1.7, but I suppose only time will tell what we'll truly get out of the Stardew Valley update… other than romanceable Clint and Sandy, of course – although ConcernedApe can keep the former, if you ask me.

"Clint this, Sandy that": Stardew Valley fans have bigger things on their mind than the 1.7 marriage candidates, like the goblin villages ConcernedApe "completely scrapped."