Stardew Valley Celebrates 10 Years as ConcernedApe Reveals Clint and Sandy Marriage Options in 1.7 Preview
Stardew Valley turned 10 today, and its creator used a commemorative video to unveil two new marriage candidates in a preview of the forthcoming 1. 7 update. The announcement matters because it both underscores ongoing development from solo developer ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) and introduces changes that could alter how players view long-running characters.
YouTube Video: ConcernedApe's 10th Anniversary Preview
To mark the milestone, ConcernedApe premiered a video on YouTube that revisited older builds of the farming sim and offered a sneak peek at the 1. 7 update. At the very end of the video he revealed the new romance additions, a move that closed the anniversary presentation on a surprise note. The clip also functions as a behind-the-scenes look at the project and demonstrates the way the game came together over its lifespan.
Stardew Valley 1. 7 Adds Clint and Sandy
The 1. 7 update will include the franchise's first new marriage candidates in years: Clint, the town blacksmith, and Sandy, a shopkeeper in the desert. The update currently has no release window, though the preview implies it is being developed and will arrive sometime in the future. Fans were shown only a brief glimpse in the anniversary video rather than a full roadmap or launch date.
Clint: From Community Punchline to Romance Candidate
Clint's inclusion is notable because he is frequently made fun of by segments of the community who dislike his personality, making him one of the more commonly disdained characters in the cast. Adding romance quests to a character typically expands their narrative and social depth, and that design choice may be an intentional attempt to shift perception of Clint. The effect of romance content often deepens characterization, which could influence how players respond to a previously mocked figure.
Robin and the Wizard Remain Unchanged for Now
Other characters that players have long requested as marriage candidates include Robin and the Wizard. Robin is already established as married when the player first arrives in the village, yet romantic interest from the community has persisted. Unless such additions appear in a future 1. 8 update, the preview indicates fans who want more partnership options for those characters will need to rely on fan fiction and community mods.
Updates Slowed, Switch 2 Patch and Haunted Chocolatier
Though Stardew Valley is far from a live service game, its solo developer continues to provide content updates despite a significant slowdown in recent years. The game recently received a Switch 2 update that added split-screen co-op and mouse controls, showing continued platform support alongside core development. ConcernedApe's next project, Haunted Chocolatier, has no confirmed release date; its timing is unclear in the provided context, but it is described as a highly anticipated follow-up to the developer's work on Stardew Valley.
What makes this notable is that the 10th-anniversary preview blends reflection with tangible new content: a developer looking back over decade-old builds while also proposing concrete changes—two marriage candidates and platform updates—that will have direct impact on how players engage with the game going forward.
