Stardew Valley 1.7 is shaping up to be a cozy storm of new content: two fresh romance options, a brand-new farm type, and long-requested improvements to how kids fit into Pelican Town life. There’s no release date yet, but the tease alone has the community buzzing—and for good reason. Here’s a friendly rundown of what’s been hinted at so far, what it could mean for your farm, and how to get your save ready for when the update finally drops.
What we know so far
- Two new romance candidates: Confirmed. We don’t have names, faces, or favorite gifts yet, but that’s part of the fun.
- A new farm type: Also confirmed. Expect another map with a unique layout and mechanical twist.
- Kid improvements: The developer wants children to feel more meaningful and interesting, addressing a long-standing community request.
- Release timing: No date, no window—just the promise that it’s happening.
Why two new romances is a bigger deal than it sounds Stardew’s relationships are the heartbeat of Pelican Town. Two additional paths don’t just mean more cutscenes or a few heart events; they can reshape early-game priorities, gift routes, and even how you plan festivals. New candidates could be:
- Familiar faces made eligible: Fans have daydreamed for years about certain townsfolk getting the full romance treatment. If 1.7 elevates beloved NPCs you already know, it’ll make revisiting old saves feel fresh.
- Entirely new arrivals: Less likely, but imagine how even one new villager can rebalance routines, dialogue variety, and town vibes.
Either way, the most exciting part is discovery—learning schedules, finding loved and liked gifts, and stumbling into those first few heart events that make Pelican Town feel alive all over again. If you’re a min-maxer, be ready for fresh gift charts, optimal wooing routes, and new home upgrade pacing to accommodate family plans.
Kids get their glow-up For years, children in Stardew have been cute, cozy, and—let’s be honest—mostly decorative. The 1.7 update aims to change that by making them “more interesting.” What could that look like in practice?
- More dialogue variety: Unique lines tied to seasons, festivals, parent personality, or even your farm’s specialty.
- Light interactions and chores: Picture your kids feeding animals, sprinkling water on crops, or delivering a note to a neighbor. Nothing that breaks balance—just small rituals that make a house feel like a home.
- Mini-milestones: Little events that acknowledge birthdays or growth phases without turning Stardew into a full-on life sim.
- Town integration: Cameos at school, seasonal plays, or community center moments that give your family a subtle presence around town.
Crucially, any kid update should remain respectful of Stardew’s gentle pace. Expect additive flavor rather than heavy mechanics, keeping the game’s hallmark comfort intact.
A new farm type means fresh mastery paths Every new map changes not only where you place sheds and sprinklers, but how you think about your entire year. Past farm types have incentivized combat, fishing, foraging, or efficiency. The 1.7 farm could do something similar by emphasizing:
- Terrain strategy: Terraces, narrow valleys, or dense groves that influence layout and pathing.
- Resource rhythm: Maybe an early-game nudge toward beekeeping, orchards, or artisan goods.
- Environmental flavor: Weather patterns, unique water access, or wildlife ambiance that makes the map feel distinct.
The best part of a new farm type is that it revives the early game. There’s something magical about that first backpack upgrade or the “aha” moment when a layout finally clicks. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to restart, 1.7’s map could be the perfect one.
Preparing your save for 1.7 Whether you’re mid-year on your legacy farm or planning a clean slate, here’s how to be update-ready:
- Back up your saves: Especially if you use mods. Store a copy outside your game folder.
- Curate your mod list: Turn off anything that dramatically alters NPCs, maps, or festivals. Reintroduce mods gradually post-update as they’re patched.
- Stockpile smart: Keep materials that are common upgrade bottlenecks—hardwood, coal, iron, oak resin, cloth, and battery packs.
- Open floor plans: If you love decorating, leave some space in your farmhouse for potential new family or social content.
- Hit relationship goals: If you suspect a favorite NPC could be “promoted” to romanceable status, start banking hearts and gifts now.
- Pace your year: If you’re on the cusp of a new file, consider pausing until 1.7 to experience the new farm type from day one.
For returning players: a quick reboot plan
- Day 1–7: Rush the basics (backpack, copper tools) and scout your farm’s unique advantages.
- Early spring: Set up a small barn or coop to anchor daily routine. Sprinkle in forage routes that match the map layout.
- Mid-game: Shift toward artisan pipelines fitted to the map’s strengths—kegs, preserves jars, bee houses, or early orchard placement.
- Social loop: Choose two to three villagers to focus on weekly. Add festival participation to keep your routine lively.
- Comfort corner: Dedicate a cozy spot on the farm—a reading nook, a grove, or a lakeside bench—to make your space feel personal. This pays off when new social or kid interactions start happening at home.
Why 1.7 matters even if you’ve “done it all” Stardew’s longevity isn’t about massive mechanical overhauls. It’s about soft expansion: a couple of new hearts to win, new places to till and tinker, new reasons to check the calendar and stroll through town. Two romances can spark dozens of hours of lighthearted sleuthing. A single farm map can justify an entirely new save. And if kids feel more present, your farmhouse roleplay goes from cute to lived-in.
Reasonable expectations
- Confirmed: Two romance candidates, one new farm type, kid improvements.
- Unknown: Release date, whether new romances are existing NPCs or fresh faces, and the extent of kid interactions.
- Nice-to-have ideas: Expanded social events, more endgame decor, and small quality-of-life touches around gifting or pathing.
If this follows the series’ tradition, the real joy will be in the details—the new item descriptions, cheeky one-liners at festivals, and tiny events that remind you why Pelican Town still feels like home after all these years.
Final thoughts Stardew Valley 1.7 doesn’t need a flashy rollout to make an impact. A fresh pair of hearts to chase, a new canvas to plant on, and a cozier family life are exactly the kind of updates that keep this farming sim evergreen. My advice: make peace with your current save, plan your next one, and keep a little chest ready by the farmhouse door—because when 1.7 lands, you’ll want to sprint out at sunrise.
