2020 has been a good run for indie games and this week, Eric Barone, the creator of Stardew Valley has shared updates regarding the 1.5 update and it will include an “Advanced Game Options” as well as a new beach farm.
If you're a seasoned player thinking of starting a new farm when 1.5 comes out, I'd like to highlight a couple of new features. There will be a new farm type, "Beach Farm", and a new "Advanced Game Options" menu, from which you can adjust some aspects of the game: pic.twitter.com/iMnw2uGLEO
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) December 20, 2020
Last month, he also assured fans that the game update is now in the “home stretch” and since it’s a very big update, here are some of the features that we’ll expect once it comes out before the end of the year.
the 1.5 update is in the "home stretch", it's a very big update so there is a lot of polishing and bug fixing necessary to make sure it's ready. It'll be very fun to share it with all of you in the near future. I think you'll be really happy and surprised with all the new stuff!
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) November 13, 2020
A Dive In The Advanced Game Options
In his recent tweet, the creator shared a number of options available for this new feature which will include the player’s ability to modify community center bundles as well as control mine rewards.
There are also checkboxes where you have the option to spawn monsters on the farm and “Guarantee Year 1 Completable”. One user asked if monster spawns can also be deactivated on the Wilderness Farm and Barone confirmed.
The Guarantee Year 1 Completable option ensures the player of receiving a red cabbage seed. As per Barone, the red cabbage in the current version cannot be obtained in year 1 except by random chance at the traveling merchant which will not likely happen.
One user also asked what the “Remixed” bundles meant and Barone replied that it’s going to be a randomized mixture of new and old bundles. Choosing “Normal” will give the player the classic Stardew Valley set of bundles.
Right now in Stardew Valley, there's a bundle that requires red cabbage, which can't be obtained in year 1 except by random chance at the traveling merchant, which might not happen. Selecting "guaranteed y1 completable" ensures that red cabbage seed will show up in y1
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) December 20, 2020
Split-Screen Co-Op Might Be The Most Exciting Feature Yet
Fans are still excited with the fact that this update will include split-screen in which you could play up to four players. This update could even bring back the popularity of couch co-op gaming.
In Stardew Valley 1.5, there will be splitscreen co-op! pic.twitter.com/n7XhPWSuSi
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) October 16, 2020
Games like Mario 8 Kart Deluxe and Outward have implemented this well so far and it would be nice to see more games support this type of gameplay.
If Stardew Valley implements this well, then the other games might be open to exploring this aspect in gaming especially if the gamer’s want to make the most out of their money’s worth.
