A joke made byStardew Valleydeveloper ConcernedApe could come to fruition considering the depth and space that can be explored in the game. It’s any gamer’s dream to receive new updates and content for the rest of their lives, and ConcernedApe seems committed to the bit. Predicting the updates thatStardew Valleycould receive through 2075 may seem daunting, but there are some areas of the Ferngill Republic that players may want to explore.
Stardew Valleyhad a massive update with version 1.6of the game back in December 2024, adding the standard quality of life improvements alongside new events. Large updates like this are fairly standard when it comes toStardew Valley’s updates, but the hit farming simulation could expand the game entirely in one key way.
ConcernedApe Can Expand Stardew Valley’s Locations for Decades of Content
In an interview with NPR,Stardew Valleydeveloper Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, answered questions about the hit indie game’s development, growth, and future. Expanding on his previous statement that he pictured working on the farming simulation for the rest of his life, ConcernedApe confirmed that he never wants to completely shut the door onStardew Valleyand that he could even add new content to the game fifty years down the line. When questioned by the interviewer about his answer, ConcernedApe stated that he has no plans to retire and joked that he might even release updates into his nineties.
Though ConcernedApe’s response to the future ofStardew Valleymay be hyperbolic, the game has established plenty of paths that could lead to fifty full years of new content. One of the easiest ways for ConcernedApe to continueStardew Valley’s expansion would be by investigating other locationsmentioned in the game’s lore.
Several spots come to mind for map expansions, like the Fern Islands, Prairie Island, and Zuzu City. Choosing the Fern Islands and Prairie Islands would cater more towards the game’s cozy nature, as Zuzu City is canonically a bustling city compared to Pelican Town. Out of these three locations, the Fern Islands has the most content already available inStardew Valley,as players can visit andfarm on one of its islands, Ginger Island, after repairing the boat in the backroom of Willy’s Fish Shop and buying tickets.
Some of these locations also have ties to the lore ofseveral NPCs, both romanceableand non-romanceable. Perhaps these characters could have higher stakes or more interactions with players based on these hypothetical map expansions.
Stardew Valley Should Expand on These Locations
For example,Willy is from the Fern Islandsand Gus uses Fern Island Ringfruit for his premier candy canes. Players who marry Haley will discover that she wants to spend their shared retirement among the Fern Islands. These islands are located in the Gem Sea, which is the ocean that makes up the entire southern coast of Pelican Town. Prairie Island is an island far to the west of the Gem Sea, populated with raccoons. Considering its distance from Pelican Town, it’s unlikely that Prairie Island would be chosen as a map expansion forStardew Valley, but it’s been consistently referenced in the game, like in the movie “Natural Wonder: Exploring Our Vibrant World.”
Whileadding Zuzu City could change the entire vibe ofStardew Valley, ConcernedApe could use the metropolis as more of a visiting location for events. In fact, Shane will take players who romance him to a Zuzu City Tunnelers match in the city’s stadium for his Ten Hearts event. Considering that Sam used to live in the city and that other NPCs, like Haley, have canonically visited it before, expanding the city’s presence into a place that players can visit could make it a subdued, but appreciated map expansion. Time will tell if ConcernedApe will update Stardew Valley into his nineties, but he has plenty of content to draw from if he really wants to continue working onStardew Valleyinto 2075.
