Somehow, Stardew Valley Is 10 Years Old Already.
Stardew Valley reaches its 10th anniversary on February 26, 2026, as creator Eric Barone—better known as ConcernedApe—details nearly 50 million copies sold, hundreds of thousands of daily Steam players, free Update 1.7 with two new marriage candidates, and Haunted Chocolatier development in an extensive IGN interview.
Here’s the TL;DR:
Stardew Valley sold over 41 million copies by late 2024, with 26 million on PC and 7.9 million on Switch; IGN reports nearly 50 million total.
Maintains 50,000 concurrent Steam players daily, all-time peak of 236,614 in 2024.
Update 1.7 adds two marriage candidates—revealed February 26—and improves children per fan requests.
One secret message hides undiscovered in the game files.
Haunted Chocolatier advances without deadlines; Barone recently shut down abandonment rumors.
Nexus Mods hosts 27,000+ mods, fueling endless replayability.
Stardew Valley Debuted on PC February 26, 2016.
Stardew Valley launched on Windows via Steam exactly 10 years ago. Eric Barone began solo development in 2011, spending nearly five years on code, art, music, and design.
It built on Harvest Moon roots with mining, combat, festivals, and same-sex marriages from day one.
Eric Barone Handled Every Aspect of Stardew Valley Alone at First.
Barone coded, composed 70+ tracks, drew thousands of sprites, and wrote hundreds of dialogues by himself. He credits a “scrappy” style for the game’s charm.
“I still definitely feel like an amateur... my approach to development is very scrappy... it’s part of what gives Stardew Valley... an indie soul,” he told IGN.
David Lynch and Studio Ghibli Shaped Stardew Valley’s Vision.
Barone drew from David Lynch’s authenticity in Twin Peaks for subtle weirdness. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli inspired lush pixel art.
Yasuhiro Wada’s Harvest Moon laid the farming groundwork.
Stardew Valley Ports Hit Consoles in 2017 and Mobile in 2018.
Console versions arrived on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch that February. iOS and Android followed in October 2018.
Switch alone accounts for 7.9 million sales.
Multiplayer Transformed Stardew Valley in 2018.
Post-launch multiplayer for up to four players boosted appeal. Families played co-op farms, cementing its cozy status.
Barone called it a major highlight.
Stardew Valley 1.6 Update Marked a Team Milestone in 2024.
PC got Update 1.6 in March 2024; consoles followed in November. It added 100+ items, new festivals, and a raccoon family questline.
Barone added the raccoons himself for fun.
Stardew Valley 1.7 Update Adds Two New Marriage Candidates.
Update 1.7 tackles fan wishes like engaging children. Two fresh spouses join the 12 existing ones, complete with heart events and farm areas.
Identities drop on anniversary day.
“I’m going to be adding two more marriage candidates, but I’ll reveal who it is on the anniversary day,” Barone said.
Stardew Valley Sales Hit Nearly 50 Million Copies Total.
Lifetime sales passed 41 million by December 2024. PC leads at 26 million; IGN cites nearly 50 million now.
PlatformCopies SoldPC26 million+Switch7.9 million+Total41–50 million
Steam Sees 50,000 Daily Players for Stardew Valley.
Current concurrent players hover around 50,000. It ranks high on Steam charts.
All-time peak hit 236,614 during 1.6 hype.
One Stardew Valley Secret Eludes Players After a Decade.
A hidden message persists in artwork, now outdated.
“There’s still a secret that no one has ever found... it reveals something that actually isn’t even true anymore,” Barone revealed.
He doubts it’ll surface.
Stardew Valley Boasts 27,000 Mods on NexusMods.
Nexus hosts 27,018 mods. Stardew Valley Expanded leads downloads, adding maps, quests, and NPCs.
Mods extend playtime indefinitely.
Stardew Valley Earned Perfect Scores and Indie Awards.
IGN re-reviewed it 10/10 in 2024. It swept Game of the Year at SXSW and IGF.
Metacritic averages 89/100.
Haunted Chocolatier Advances Steadily as Spiritual Successor.
Barone develops it solo, no rush. Recent updates quash abandonment talk: it releases when ready.
Team handles Stardew updates, freeing time.
Stardew Valley Ignited Cozy Gaming and Community Events.
It popularized relaxing sims like Fields of Mistria. Sold-out concerts and cookbooks followed.
“I’ve been blown away by how popular Stardew Valley is,” Barone said.
ConcernedApe Prepares 10th Anniversary Retrospective Video.
Barone plans a timeline video of 15 years’ work. No TV show unless Lynch directs.
Updates continue as long as players engage.
Stardew Valley endures via free updates, mod support, and Barone’s dedication, nearing 50 million sales while Update 1.7 refreshes romance options. Haunted Chocolatier promises his next cozy hit, ensuring Pelican Town’s legacy inspires for another decade.
Hat Tips
Stardew Valley Turns 10: The Big ConcernedApe Interview — IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/stardew-valley-turns-10-the-big-concernedape-interviewStardew Valley has topped 41 million lifetime sales — Game Developer / Dec 30, 2024
https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/stardew-valley-sales-grew-to-over-41-million-by-2024-s-endStardew Valley’s 1.7 Update Will Add 2 New Marriage Candidates — IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/stardew-valleys-17-update-will-add-2-new-marriage-candidatesStardew Valley Steam Charts — SteamDB
https://steamdb.info/app/413150/chartsStardew Valley Mods — NexusMods
https://www.nexusmods.com/stardewvalley/mods
Article compiled by Newsroom Staff on February 03, 2026 and was fact-checked by Editorial before publication.