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It has been almost three years since the release of patch 1.5 for Stardew Valley, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next big update. Recently, developer ConcernedApe has been snippets and teases about the game’s next major update. So, keep reading as we give you the details on what we know about Stardew Valley Update 1.6 so far and when we can expect its release.

Stardew Valley 1.6 Release Date Predictions

ConcernedApe announced that he’s working on Stardew Valley Update 1.6 in April 2023. Almost a year later, he announced the official release date for this update, which will be on March 19, 2024 for the PC version and November 4, 2024 for consoles, according to another announcement. Unlike his other updates for Stardew Valley, it took the developer over three years to make. Here's a rundown of the game's previous releases and their launch dates to put that thought into perspective:

• Version 1.0: February 26, 2016
• Version 1.1: October 3, 2016
• Version 1.2.26: April 24, 2017
• Version 1.3.27: August 1, 2018
• Version 1.4: November 26, 2019
• Version 1.5: December 21, 2020

Note: Stardew Valley versions 1.2.0 to 1.2.25 and 1.3.0 to 1.3.27 are beta releases. Looking at the list above, it typically takes ConcernedApe about one year to launch a new major patch. Still, 2020 was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, slowing game development all around. Taking that event into account, players should see the full release of Update 1.6 sometime in middle to late 2024. This release window an accurate prediction after ConcernedApe's recent announcement and from his confirmation that the update will arrive sometime in 2024.

Stardew Valley 1.6: All Content and Features Revealed So Far

On September 28, 2023, ConcernedApe tweeted an image highlighting the content and features players can expect with 1.6. However, most of the items mentioned in the developer’s list are cryptic, leaving fans to speculate what new things will come with the next major update apart from what has already been announced. Here’s what to expect in Stardew Valley Update 1.6 from ConcernedApe’s list:

• A new major festival
• Two new mini festivals
• New late-game content, which expands on each of the skill areas
• New items and crafting recipes
• Joja alternatives to some of the end-game quests
• 100+ new lines of dialogue
• Winter outfits for the villagers
• A new type of reward for completing billboard requests
• (PC) support for eight-player multiplayer
• Many small additions and adjustments
• New farm type
• New secrets & more

Hats on Cats and Dogs

Farm pets will soon have more flair than just being cute. A tweet from the developer includes an image of cats and dogs wearing hats. Terraria producer Cenx is also excited about this feature and jokingly bargained with ConcernedApe for information. If the developer agreed, he would gain information about the release date for Terraria 1.4.5.

Wild Horseradish Juice

On October 21, 2023, ConcernedApe posted a cryptic tweet with an image of a new consumable item called the Wild Horseradish Juice. But the developer didn’t say anything about the image other than the word “yum.” However, this post may suggest that Update 1.6 will bring more artisanal goods to the game and not only this juice. The upcoming patch may also let players turn Wild Horseradish into other high-value items.

Mysterious Qi Fruit

One of ConcernedApe’s recent teases about Stardew Valley Update 1.6 is an image of a mysterious fruit donning a pair of sunglasses. Many fans recognized the food item as a Qi Fruit, and it only appears during Mr. Qi’s “Qi’s Crop” quest. However, the developer didn’t elaborate on why he posted this image. Still, it could mean that players might soon be able to plant Qi Fruit on their farms.