Stardew Valley 1.6 update release date and patch notes we know so far

Stardew Valley
(Image credit: Concerned Ape)

The Stardew Valley update 1.6 is out now on PC, dropping right on cue from developer ConcernedApe, and boy is it massive. Over the past week or so, creator Eric 'Concerned Ape' Barone' has been releasing one patch note at a time ranging from the helpful to the silly, but I'm not sure that anything prepared us for the length of the true Stardew Valley update 1.6 patch notes

A quick bit of housekeeping, though. Barone suggests trying the new Stardew update without mods to start, though there is a workaround you can use if that's not for you.

Stardew Valley update 1.6 release date

The Stardew Valley update 1.6 release date has been set for March 19 for quite some time. But now, the Stardew Valley update 1.6 is now out on PC only. 

You can expect the patch to go live on mobile and console "as soon as possible," so sit tight.

Stardew Valley update 1.6 patch notes

Over the past week or so, ConcernedApe has been unveiling one patch note for the 1.6 update per day. This might sound a little small potatoes, but it's pretty reliably kept everyone on their toes, and provided a great deal of weird information for players to delve into.

The first patch note for the 1.6 update was that you'll be able to pass through pets a whole 0.75 seconds quicker. Secondly, the downward swing of the sword has been increased in size, something which apparently bugged ConcernedApe a great deal, so you'll now more reliably hit enemies and objects beneath you.

Thankfully, there are also bug fixes aplenty in Stardew Valley update 1.6, fixing issues that have quietly been in the game's background for over seven years now. One issue that's being remedied is a bug that made it faster to harvest from left to right, compared to the other way around. 

Another tweak is that chopping down trees will cause saplings to grow at a faster rate than before. There's a little more to it than that though - if the tree is mature, so the fruit quality is higher than basic, it'll yield a sapling of the same quality as the tree and its fruit.

Elsewhere, marriage will have a "honeymoon" period, so that newlyweds no longer lounge around in bed depressed for seven days. You'll also be able to drink an entire jar of mayonnaise, just in case that's your jam and you feel like inflicting the torture on the taste buds of your Stardew character. 

The Stardew Valley update 1.6 patch notes also impact chest items. They now allow color-coding, so jellies, wines, pickles, and juices will be color-coded while you're storing them.

Perhaps saving the best for last, we found out the day before update 1.6's release that Stardew Valley is getting a whole new farm type that comes with two chickens and "chewy blue grass that animals love." Somehow, we reckon we'll love it all, too.

Stardew Valley has sold over 30 million copies as of last month in February, and ConcernedApe says it's "thriving more than ever."

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

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