Stardew Valley Update 1.6: A Comprehensive Changelog Overview

The latest Stardew Valley update, version 1.6, has arrived, adding a wealth of new features, events, items, and quality-of-life changes to the beloved farming simulator. The update brings enhancements across nearly every aspect of the game, from new farm types and improved NPC interactions to various visual and multiplayer adjustments. Here’s a closer look at what’s included in this substantial update.

New Content and Features

1. Festivals and EventsDesert Festival: A three-day spring event, accessible after repairing the bus.Fishing Events: Two new fishing festivals, Trout Derby and SquidFest.Summer Event: A new environmental event in the summer.
2. Desert Festival: A three-day spring event, accessible after repairing the bus.
3. Fishing Events: Two new fishing festivals, Trout Derby and SquidFest.
4. Summer Event: A new environmental event in the summer.
5. Mastery SystemAccessed through a new area, this system introduces perks and items for advanced players.
6. Accessed through a new area, this system introduces perks and items for advanced players.
7. New Farm Type: Meadowlands FarmThis new farm type starts with a coop and two chickens, featuring grass that animals particularly enjoy.
8. This new farm type starts with a coop and two chickens, featuring grass that animals particularly enjoy.
9. Expanded Dialogue and Dynamic InteractionsThe update brings new dialogues, dynamic responses based on game events, custom reactions to gifts, and restored missing dialogues from characters such as Shane and Emily.
10. The update brings new dialogues, dynamic responses based on game events, custom reactions to gifts, and restored missing dialogues from characters such as Shane and Emily.
11. Multiple PetsPlayers can now adopt multiple pets once they reach maximum affection with their initial pet.
12. Players can now adopt multiple pets once they reach maximum affection with their initial pet.
13. Enhanced World MapGinger Island now has its own map, showing real-time player positions across locations, even in multiplayer.
14. Ginger Island now has its own map, showing real-time player positions across locations, even in multiplayer.

New Items and Buildings

1. Farm and Tool AdditionsNew items include Big Chest, Heavy Furnace, Fish Smoker, Text Signs, and Mini-Forge.There’s also a Statue of Blessings and a Statue of the Dwarf King for special buffs and bonuses.
2. New items include Big Chest, Heavy Furnace, Fish Smoker, Text Signs, and Mini-Forge.
3. There’s also a Statue of Blessings and a Statue of the Dwarf King for special buffs and bonuses.
4. Expanded Crafting OptionsThe Dehydrator, Bait Maker, and Mushroom Log add new ways to process crops and products.
5. The Dehydrator, Bait Maker, and Mushroom Log add new ways to process crops and products.
6. New Crops and DecorationsFour new crops (including carrots and summer squash), 280 new furniture pieces, and themed furniture catalogues are now available.
7. Four new crops (including carrots and summer squash), 280 new furniture pieces, and themed furniture catalogues are now available.
8. Deluxe Worm Bin and Challenge BaitA deluxe worm bin to produce special bait, and challenge bait that allows multiple fish to be caught in a single attempt.
9. A deluxe worm bin to produce special bait, and challenge bait that allows multiple fish to be caught in a single attempt.

Visual and Environment Enhancements

1. Improved Graphics and LightingWaterfalls, additional holiday decorations, and redesigned building interiors enhance the Valley’s aesthetic.Lighting updates now reflect real-time changes, making nighttime darker indoors and adjusting indoor lighting on rainy days for a cozier feel.
2. Waterfalls, additional holiday decorations, and redesigned building interiors enhance the Valley’s aesthetic.
3. Lighting updates now reflect real-time changes, making nighttime darker indoors and adjusting indoor lighting on rainy days for a cozier feel.
4. Seasonal Changes and Map UpdatesSeasonal variants of maps and a redrawn world map offer more immersion, while boat textures have been updated to match the latest map designs.
5. Seasonal variants of maps and a redrawn world map offer more immersion, while boat textures have been updated to match the latest map designs.

Quality of Life Improvements

1. Animal Happiness and Grass in WinterClosing animal doors at night now increases animal happiness, and grass will survive winter (though it won’t spread).
2. Closing animal doors at night now increases animal happiness, and grass will survive winter (though it won’t spread).
3. Farm and Inventory UpdatesYou can now move filled chests by using a heavy tool, place flooring under buildings, and keep pets out of the way by shifting them after a short push.
4. You can now move filled chests by using a heavy tool, place flooring under buildings, and keep pets out of the way by shifting them after a short push.
5. Upgraded Machines and ToolsThe mushroom cave now provides a free dehydrator, and several machines (like worm bins and looms) have improved outputs. Players can also craft with materials more efficiently.
6. The mushroom cave now provides a free dehydrator, and several machines (like worm bins and looms) have improved outputs. Players can also craft with materials more efficiently.
7. Pet and NPC UpdatesNPCs now avoid walking through trees, and players can schedule the Adventure Guild until 2 a.m., with new tailored options for both indoor and outdoor events.
8. NPCs now avoid walking through trees, and players can schedule the Adventure Guild until 2 a.m., with new tailored options for both indoor and outdoor events.

Multiplayer Upgrades

1. Expanded Multiplayer CapacityPC players can now have up to 8 players in a session, with improved stability and reduced lag through optimized data syncing.
2. PC players can now have up to 8 players in a session, with improved stability and reduced lag through optimized data syncing.
3. New Event Mechanics and Daily SyncsThe game now only kicks players out of specific mines when difficulty changes, rather than all mines. Additionally, players will see accurate daily quest syncs and fair seasonal weather transitions.
4. The game now only kicks players out of specific mines when difficulty changes, rather than all mines. Additionally, players will see accurate daily quest syncs and fair seasonal weather transitions.

Balance Changes

1. Adjusted Prices and RecipesNew costs have been added for home renovations, and many item prices (like tea saplings and fairy dust) have been reduced.
2. New costs have been added for home renovations, and many item prices (like tea saplings and fairy dust) have been reduced.
3. Improved Farm Output and Animal HappinessGrass no longer dies in winter, but becomes less effective when cut. Animals receive a happiness boost if players close doors at night.
4. Grass no longer dies in winter, but becomes less effective when cut. Animals receive a happiness boost if players close doors at night.
5. New Item Drops and Crafting RecipesGeode Crushers no longer require coal, and some items like Speed-Gro have updated crafting ingredients.
6. Geode Crushers no longer require coal, and some items like Speed-Gro have updated crafting ingredients.

Mod and Accessibility Support

1. Support for Modded Characters and LocationsModded characters and custom locations have expanded support, with lessened crash risk on NPC pathfinding and optimized loading speeds for heavily modded farms.
2. Modded characters and custom locations have expanded support, with lessened crash risk on NPC pathfinding and optimized loading speeds for heavily modded farms.
3. New Tools for Mod DevelopersExpanded festival options and sprite selections, along with optimized pathfinding, allow developers greater flexibility in customizing events and storylines.
4. Expanded festival options and sprite selections, along with optimized pathfinding, allow developers greater flexibility in customizing events and storylines.

Patch and Bug Fixes

1. Controller and Interface AdjustmentsUsers now benefit from an improved control scheme that includes better cursor responses and smoother interactions on all platforms.
2. Users now benefit from an improved control scheme that includes better cursor responses and smoother interactions on all platforms.
3. Improved StabilityThe update resolves crashes in multiplayer, especially for macOS and Linux users, and addresses memory leak issues in highly populated sessions.
4. The update resolves crashes in multiplayer, especially for macOS and Linux users, and addresses memory leak issues in highly populated sessions.
5. Combat and Skill AdjustmentsNumerous tweaks to weapon stats and attack mechanics help make combat more intuitive, including fixes for hitboxes and projectile behavior.
6. Numerous tweaks to weapon stats and attack mechanics help make combat more intuitive, including fixes for hitboxes and projectile behavior.

Final Notes

This update makes Stardew Valley even richer, encouraging players to explore the Valley’s new content, participate in enhanced events, and enjoy improved multiplayer stability. With all of these added features, visual updates, and quality-of-life improvements, this update brings players closer to a more immersive experience as they continue their journey through Pelican Town.

For a full list of changes, check out the official changelog to explore everything new and discover your own hidden updates in the game.