The console and mobile versions of Stardew Valley’s groundbreaking 1.6 update are proving troublesome, it seems — so much so that developer Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, has said he hasn’t worked on a sequel “for quite some time.”
The free 1.6 update, which prompted IGN’s fresh 10/10 Stardew Valley review , was released on PC in March, meaning console and mobile players of the phenomenally successful farming/life sim have been waiting nearly half a year so far. ConcernedApe had initially expected the ports to release a month later.
IN tweetA clearly frustrated ConcernedApe apologized to disgruntled fans and promised that he wouldn’t return to work on the next game, Haunted Chocolatier, until Stardew 1.6 was finalized.
“Console and mobile ports are still a work in progress,” ConcernedApe said. “I admit they take a lot of time. There are reasons for that, but the bottom line is they’re not out yet, we’re still working on them, and they’ve been our primary focus since 1.6 on PC.
“It would be a huge relief for me if they were ready today, but they aren’t, so all we can do is continue working on them until they are. I haven’t touched Haunted Chocolatier in a long time because I committed to finishing Stardew 1.6 first.
“To those who are frustrated or even angry about the schedule, I understand and take full responsibility. To those who are patient and understanding, thank you, you make life better and reduce stress, I appreciate it. I’m getting back to work.”
In continuation tweetConcernedApe responded to a fan who asked why version 1.6 was released on PC first and not later with consoles and mobile devices. He argued that PC allows for quick fixes and bug fixes, while console takes much longer.
“That’s why it’s best to fix all major issues before sending them to consoles,” ConcernedApe continued. “Otherwise, players could be left with game-breaking bugs and even save-breaking bugs for a week.
“I honestly didn’t expect the console to take this long, but there were technical issues with the transfer process. Initially, I was hoping for maybe a month, max. In any case, I feel bad about it.”
There is no updated release window for Stardew Valley 1.6 on consoles and mobile devices, but hopefully it won’t be too long. Haunted Chocolatier, revealed in 2021, also doesn’t have a release window.
This week, ConcernedApe explained why he really wants Pam to appear in a potential Stardew Valley and Fortnite crossover.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
