Upcoming Stardew Valley 1.6 Patch Release for Consoles and Mobile
Eric Barone, the creator behind Stardew Valley, known as “Concerned Ape”, has revealed that the highly anticipated 1.6 patch for the console and mobile versions of the game will be released on November 4, 2024. Players can expect the update to roll out at approximately 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 7 PM CET. This patch follows the successful launch of the same update for PC users back in March 2024.
Patch Timing and Variability
It’s important to note that the release time may not be exactly as stated and could vary by platform. The times given are estimates; availability may fluctuate slightly, depending on the console or mobile device in use. This update will incorporate all content from version 1.6 up to 1.6.9.
Detailed Patch Notes
For players eager to get a glimpse of what this patch entails, the complete patch notes for Stardew Valley’s console and mobile 1.6.9 update can be found on the official website. These notes were meticulously compiled by the community contributor, Pathoschild.
New Content & Features
- A new character in the secret woods will assist players in recovering lost items—for a fee.
- Legendary fish can now inhabit fish ponds, producing unique legendary fish roe, with each fish exhibiting distinct water colors.
- Players can sleep in any constructed building that permits furniture, including non-farm buildings.
- Items that are dropped in water will float temporarily, allowing players to retrieve them if they’re quick enough or using a magnet ring.
- Work portraits have been added for Sam and Shane while they are employed at JojaMart.
- Dialogues have been refined for better coherence.
- New Easter eggs have been introduced, adding to the game’s charm.
- Hidden cheat commands have been integrated, though these are available on platforms that support save edits.
Balance Changes
- Grass growth rates have been adjusted, with blue grass now growing at the same rate as regular grass.
- Fruit trees can grow without obstruction from grass or seed spots.
- Pine trees yield one additional unit of wood when harvested.
- The initiation quest now accounts for wild slimes eliminated on the farm.
- The Thorns Ring damage now stacks when two are equipped, and slain monsters drop loot akin to regular kills.
- The chance to double forage has been extended to include the use of an iridium scythe for players with the Gatherer skill.
- Players can now catch the Son of Crimsonfish during the night market.
- Robin will no longer construct buildings during the first year’s green rain.
- Placing and switching weapons around bomb placement will no longer transfer enchantments to bomb damage.
- Several shops have a few new items, including the Adventurer’s Guild and Marnie’s shop.
Quality of Life Enhancements
- The game now has improved save recovery systems for broken or corrupted files.
- Players who missed achievements or important mail will have them resent if played again.
- Fish ponds will display the quantity of produced roe or other items.
- Wedding events can now be replayed by reloading the day.
- The tailor UI received a user-friendly update, disabling slots that can’t accept the current item.
- Colored items, like flowers, will now sort according to color, eliminating randomness in inventory organization.
Technical Improvements
- Migration to OpenAL is set to enhance audio performance.
- Updates have been made to SDL from version 2.0.x to 2.30.4 for improved input and windowing.
- Compatibility with newer Windows versions has been fine-tuned for those using older GPUs.
Final Thoughts on Gameplay Enhancements
The Stardew Valley community has eagerly awaited this patch, which promises not only to improve gameplay balance and fix bugs but also enhance the overall gaming experience. With the game’s availability across various platforms including Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PCs, mobile devices, and the PlayStation Vita, the upcoming enhancements are set to enrich the beloved farming simulation adventure.
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