Stardew Valley Developer Clarifies Why Update 1.6 Launched on PC First

ConcernedApe, the developer behind the popular life simulation game Stardew Valley, recently shed light on why Update 1.6 was launched on PC before it reached console and mobile platforms. Earlier this year, PC players were treated to this substantial update, which brought a wealth of new content and numerous quality-of-life improvements to the game. However, fans on other platforms have been eagerly awaiting their turn to experience these enhancements.

One of the joys of a new Stardew Valley update is the thrill of discovering new content firsthand. This excitement often draws former players back into the game with each new release. It’s understandable, then, why some fans might be frustrated with the delay in bringing the update to consoles and mobile devices, especially as they risk having new content spoiled before they can explore it themselves.

A Twitter user, bhollywood13, recently brought up this concern directly to ConcernedApe, questioning why Update 1.6 was rolled out on PC first. ConcernedApe responded by explaining that releasing updates on PC initially allows for rapid bug fixes, which is not feasible on consoles.

"It's ideal to have all major issues resolved before submitting to consoles," ConcernedApe said, highlighting that on PC, bugs can be patched within hours, whereas on consoles, it could take a week or more to address game-breaking or save-corrupting issues. He also acknowledged that he didn't anticipate the non-PC versions of Update 1.6 would take this long to release but encountered "technical issues" during the porting process. His initial goal was to have the update available on other platforms within a month of the PC release, aiming for an April 2024 launch, but this timeline proved unachievable. "At any rate, I feel bad about it," he admitted.

Why Update 1.6 for Stardew Valley Is Still Not on Consoles

- The PC version was released first to allow quick bug fixes, which can be implemented in hours on PC but take over a week on consoles.

- ConcernedApe faced "technical issues" during the porting process to consoles and mobile.

- The original plan aimed for a one-month gap between the PC release and the console update.

Bhollywood13's question came in response to a recent update from ConcernedApe about the progress of Update 1.6 for consoles and mobile devices. In his update, ConcernedApe acknowledged that fans might be frustrated due to the lack of a specific release date. However, he assured them that delivering the update remains his top priority, even at the expense of his work on Haunted Chocolatier.

Haunted Chocolatier is the next game from ConcernedApe, sharing similarities with Stardew Valley but set in a vastly different environment. Instead of managing a farm, players will run a chocolate shop, creating and selling their confections. Once the Stardew Valley Update 1.6 is fully rolled out, ConcernedApe is expected to shift his focus back to developing Haunted Chocolatier. However, it remains unclear how long fans will have to wait to get their hands on this new title.