Stardew Valley fans feel “spoiled” and “guilty” after the latest free updates from the game’s developer.
Stardew Valley is a relaxing farming simulation game developed and published by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone. It was initially released for the PC in February 2016, and other platforms followed in the following years.
In the game, players assume the role of a farmer who got their grandfather’s farm plot. They have multiple choices for the farm they start on, with the latest edition of the Meadowlands farm from the 1.6 updates.
The recent Stardew Valley 1.6 update was released today, March 19, 2024. It blessed players with new content, such as the new farm map, bug fixes, balance, and multiplayer changes. Many of the fans felt spoiled and guilty about getting the free updates.
One fan expressed that they would have happily paid for the update. They asked whether anyone else felt guilty when they spent so much on other games that don’t provide the same amount of joy as Stardew Valley.
They shared that they bought all the “stupid, buggy, exploitative” Sims packs, which become expensive when combined. In comparison, Stardew Valley continuously blesses its players with well-thought-out and meaningful updates at no additional cost.
The fan revealed that they bought Stardew Valley on multiple platforms even though they only play on PC, but this didn’t seem to express their support for the developer. Another player shared that these free updates don’t make them feel bad for buying the game on almost every console but barely playing on them.
Players of the game, such as myself, are amazed and grateful for ConcernedApe’s continuous updates and support for Stardew Valley. I’m one of the people who waited for the 1.6 update and will start a new playthrough in the newest farm map.
Another player shared that ConcernedApe said this was their life’s work, and he wanted to continue fostering the community. They believed the developer was as happy as possible and got to work on and share something he loved. If players love it too, they believe there’s nothing to feel guilty about.
The Stardew Valley 1.6 update is definitely exciting. After its release, the game reached its all-time highest player count on Steam today. We could continue to support Stardew Valley’s developer by giving the same energy to his new game, Haunted Chocolatier, in the future!