Stardew Valley creator Eric 'Concerned Ape' Barone has warned fans that it will "be a while" before the highly anticipated Stardew Valley 1.7 update is ready.

Barone confirmed we'd get a Stardew Valley 1.7 update last month at the Stardew Valley concert, although at the time, he stressed there was "no release date, no estimate, but it's happening."

Now, however, Barone is working to contain the excitement, responding to fans asking for "maybe a sneak peak [sic]" to say "more will come, I just don't want too much hype at this point."

Last time, PC players were able to jump into the free 1.6 update several months before those on console and mobile, but for 1.7, Barone says he will "do my best to minimize the delay between [releasing on PC and other platforms] so as not to have the same problem as last update" and keep Haunted Chocolatier on track, too.

Back in May, Barone admitted that he "didn't want to just be the Stardew Valley guy," explaining that was why he's currently working on Haunted Chocolatier. We shouldn't expect a release date anytime soon, though — there's "still a lot to be done," Barone recently admitted, particularly as he feels it's "got to be better" than Stardew Valley.

We enjoyed our time with the farm simulator when we reviewed it way back in 2016, awarding it 8.8 "Great" in our original Stardew Valley review. When we revisited the game in 2024, however, we hailed it a 10/10 "masterpiece," writing: "Stardew Valley is not only the best farming game I’ve played, it is one of my favorite games of all time. That myself and others keep returning to this eight-year old gem each time it gets even the smallest update speaks to how it’s truly a masterpiece in the genre it both reinvigorated and has come to define."

It's not too late to get stuck in before Update 1.7. Our Stardew Valley Beginner's Guide is fully updated for the 1.6 update, which added new crops, new fish, and plenty more - including the Raccoon Family Quests that unlock a new shop and valuable rewards. For veteran farmers who have maxed out all their skills, our Mastery Points guide can advise on next steps, and if you're headed to Ginger Island, here's where to find all Golden Walnuts.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.