Summary

• Stardew Valley's 1.6 update introduces eight-player co-op, a notably uncommon feature.
• Eight-player co-op maintains Stardew Valley's lead in a crowded genre.
• The addition of eight-player multiplayer could attract new players to the farming simulation experience.

Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update packs a lot of exciting changes into the farming and life simulation title, but there’s one in particular that could carry the future of the game on its shoulders. Ever since its release in 2016, Stardew Valley has received a lot of from its solo developer ConcernedApe, making what was already a polished experience at launch even better and more robust. Although the future is more likely to be focused on ConcernedApe’s next title, Haunted Chocolatier, it’s hard to ask for much more than what Stardew Valley has already provided.

Stardew Valley’s update history has covered a wide range of targets, from minor fixes to sweeping changes. One of the most exciting steps for the game was the 1.3 update, which introduced a whole new social experience in the form of multiplayer. The Stardew Valley 1.6 update revisits this core addition and the way in which it expands the concept has the potential to keep the game in conversations for years to come.

8-Player Co-Op Makes Stardew Valley Stand Out

Up until 1.6, Stardew Valley multiplayer allowed a maximum of four players, a number that has now been increased to the less common number of eight players. Packing that many people into one experience can definitely have its foibles, but it’s also one of the most novel additions that the game has ever received. Cooperative multiplayer titles tend to fall in the two- to four-player range, and the options are significantly slim for every additional player allowed beyond that point.

Unfortunately for anyone enjoying Stardew Valley on a console, 1.6 is currently only available on PC, although it should eventually come to all platforms that the game is available on. Mobile devices will presumably skip the multiplayer component, however, as they've also never received the standard co-op. Stardew Valley doesn't have cross-platform multiplayer, so assembling a full crew of eight will require finding enough friends who are all playing on the same system and have any necessary subscriptions for online services.

Stardew Valley multiplayer utilizes one player as the host, so when dealing with up to eight in total, it's important to make sure that the file is being handled by whoever is most likely to be around for sessions. It's also possible to manually transfer a file back and forth, but this obviously isn't the most convenient option. Anyone with the save file can progress on their own or with any number of co-op players, so there's no need to worry about progress being wasted if the multiplayer endeavor falls apart.

Few Games Offer What Stardew Valley 1.6 Does

There’s no denying that Stardew Valley is a game with a lot of market presence, but the addition of eight-player multiplayer is something that could maintain that relevance for even longer than might otherwise be expected. Farming and life simulation games have spiked in popularity in the years since Stardew Valley’s initial release, and a genre that used to be thoroughly dominated by Harvest Moon (now known as Story of Seasons outside of Japan) is full of options for every preference. for eight-player co-op, however, is something that keeps Stardew Valley noteworthy in a sea of alternatives.

Even for those who aren’t specifically looking to play a farming game, eight-player multiplayer could make it one of the most obvious picks for a larger friend group. Packing a bunch of people into one multiplayer experience tends to limit the options to mostly competitive games, and even those are often restricted to lobbies that might allow somewhere between two and six players to queue together. Someone who might otherwise not even think about picking up a virtual watering can could re-evaluate their perspective, potentially inviting many new Stardew Valley beginners and expanding the audience in an exciting way.

Stardew Valley is a good option for families or casual gamers, as the gameplay doesn't rely on any skills that take years to master. The farming concept has plenty of broad appeal, and the inclusion of romance can also be an effective draw for anyone who might not otherwise be immediately interested. Even if it isn't quite as easy to pick up and play as some other casual options like Jackbox Party Pack, adding for eight-player co-op effectively fills a gap between quick party games and more competitive titles.

How Eight-Player Co-op Works In Stardew Valley 1.6

The new addition to Stardew Valley multiplayer works in the same basic manner as the game's standard co-op, forcing all players to share one farm that they mutually work on improving. There's no need to cramp any living spaces, however, as each person lives in their own cabin. Most other features of progression remain individualized, like earning experience points, while revenue can be shared or delineated based on a setting that can be toggled when starting up a multiplayer game.

The 1.6 Update requires all players to be on the same Stardew Valley version number to play multiplayer, which is intended to reduce crashes caused by compatibility issues.

One feature that was added to four-player co-op was the introduction of the Four Corners Farm, which laid things out nicely for each farmer to enjoy their own space. Stardew Valley 1.6 unfortunately doesn't make any kind of similar addition for more players, so the best bet is just picking one of the larger farms and trying to find a good balance for everyone. There's also the option of turning to community-made content, as more options for large farms can be found through mods, and seeing ones designed around the update seems likely in the future.

Eight-player multiplayer is only one exciting update among many changes in Stardew Valley 1.6, from an expanded pet system to a new farm type. All the same, it definitely adds some staying power in a way that most others are unlikely to manage. There's a good chance that the majority of players will never have much of an opportunity or reason to check out the chaos of an oversized co-op game, but it could be a transformative Stardew Valley addition for those who do.