Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, has revealed details about the upcoming 1.7 update for Stardew Valley in an interview with IGN. The update includes two new marriage candidates and improvements to the game's children system. Additional features may involve a farm map editor and social sharing options without using AI.
Stardew Valley, developed by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, is approaching its tenth anniversary on February 26. In a recent IGN interview published on February 3, 2026, Barone shared insights into the long-anticipated 1.7 update, which he has been teasing since September with hints of “new character/social stuff” and a new farm type.
Key additions include two new marriage candidates, whose identities will be revealed on the game's anniversary. Barone also plans improvements to the children feature, often criticized by players as unengaging. A farm map editor is under consideration, allowing players to create custom maps beyond the presets, paired with a social feature for sharing designs. Barone emphasized his aversion to generative AI, stating, “I’m interested in ways to make the game more just infinitely replayable without the use of AI. That’s never going to happen.”
Balancing this work with his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, has been challenging. In a blog post late last month, Barone expressed regret over announcing Haunted Chocolatier early. Initially, in 2025, he committed to finishing it before returning to Stardew Valley, but he has since expanded his team to handle both projects. “The progress isn’t as fast as I would like,” he admitted, though the absence of preorders for Haunted Chocolatier allows a relaxed pace.
Barone also reflected on a potential Stardew Valley 2, noting he once started but abandoned it. “In fact, I would love to because it would be fun to work on a whole new set of characters, a whole new world, maybe capture some of that original energy that I had back in 2012,” he said. The 1.7 update aims to keep fans engaged until further developments.
