The new huge 1.5 update for the beloved farm town simulation, the Stardew Valley surprise, was released this week. I already told you on Wednesday, but now I’ve been playing for a few good hours, so I’ll tell you more about that, because God is so good. The new beach farm deserves to start a new rescue file, just like all the other new quality of life changes.
I’ve always found that Stardew Valley’s annual updates are pretty good at making changes that make the game better, without shaking off everything you know about it. I never started Stardew after a major update and I felt lost and confused. This is how update 1.5 is. The map of the farm on the beach is fresh and new, but it will not completely change the routine you are familiar with.
Here’s a look at the whole thing, and actually hold on. Right now I saw the entrance to the cave right in the lower left corner. I don’t know if it leads anywhere, but I’m adding it to my list of things to investigate.
The beach is a wonderful change of scenery, but be warned that sprinklers cannot be placed in the sand. This means that once you want to automate your farm operation, you will have to hurry to unlock the greenhouse or clean that single batch of dirt covered with large logs. Otherwise, you and your best friend can drink forever.
if you do you want to shake up your usual Stardew formula a bit more, don’t miss the Advanced Game Options under the key when starting a new save file. Remixing the ingredients needed to complete the Community Center packages is a worthwhile change. I’m sure I can’t be the only person who can recite the items needed for the spring feeding package and the spring crop package.
There are all sorts of nice little changes to find if you look for them. Hidden in the options menu, for example, is the option to change the audible alert when a fish is caught on the hook. I’m so conditioned by the default noise that I couldn’t afford any of the new choices, but hey, they’re nice.
The biggest and best part of the new update is one that ConcernedApe chose not to spoil in Wednesday’s 1.5 update announcement, which I’m sure I won’t. If you want to quickly follow the hottest (and hottest) part of the 1.5 update, be sure to upload one of your saves that have been in it for a few years and check out the new Willy store door that was teased at the beginning of this year.
Also, in the update announcement, ConcernedApe closed with “Next year, there will be more announcements related to Stardew Valley (and possibly beyond …) to be expected”. He also said earlier that a Stardew Valley 2 is not ruled out and that he would not be surprised if he gets to do more updates for Stardew itself. Whatever it brings next year, there are many more Stardew to chew right now.