Stardew Valley at 10: Creator Reveals Clint and Sandy as New Marriage Candidates in 1.7 Preview
Stardew Valley hits its 10th anniversary as solo developer ConcernedApe (also known as Eric Barone) celebrated the milestone and previewed the upcoming 1. 7 update. The reveal of two new marriage candidates is the headline development, and it matters because it signals continued creator attention to a decade-old indie title that remains actively updated despite a much slower release cadence.
Stardew Valley 1. 7 reveals two new marriage candidates
The anniversary presentation included a video premiere that looked back through early builds and offered a sneak peek at the 1. 7 update. At the very end of that video, Barone revealed that players will be able to romance two long-standing non-romanceable NPCs: Clint, the blacksmith, and Sandy, a shopkeeper in the desert. These additions mark the first new marriage candidates in the game in years.
Why Clint and Sandy matter for Stardew Valley
Clint's inclusion is notable because he is commonly made fun of by community members who dislike his personality. Within a cast of widely beloved characters, Clint has stood out as one of the more commonly disdained figures. Adding a romance arc for him changes how players can engage with his character, since romance quests typically expand NPC depth and backstory. Sandy's arrival as a romance option opens up connections to the desert and its existing role in the game world.
Longtime requests and what didn't change
Players have requested many additional romance options over the years. Two of the most notable absent possibilities remain Robin, who is married when the player arrives in the village, and the Wizard. The preview gives no indication that either will become romanceable in 1. 7; unless they are added in a future, larger update—unclear in the provided context—fans will still rely on fan-created fiction and community mods to explore those pairings.
Anniversary context and update cadence
Stardew Valley turning 10 marks a major milestone for an independent title described as one of the most beloved and successful indie games of the modern era. Despite not being a live service game, the solo developer ConcernedApe is still providing content updates, though work has slowed significantly in recent years. The 1. 7 update is coming soon but does not have a release window yet; the update's timing is described as hoped to arrive sometime soon, but no firm schedule was provided.
Recent platform changes and the developer's next project
The preview also noted platform-level updates that have kept the game current for returning players: a Switch 2 update adds split-screen co-op and mouse controls for those revisiting the title. Looking beyond Stardew Valley, the developer's next game is Haunted Chocolatier. There is no known release date for Haunted Chocolatier, but it is identified as one of the most anticipated upcoming games in the community.
What to watch next
The anniversary video itself offered a rare behind-the-scenes look at the game's development and evolution, showing early builds and the project's progression. With the 1. 7 preview ending on a surprise reveal, attention will now turn to further details about the update, a release window, and whether additional characters will receive romance arcs in future updates. For now, the confirmed additions—Clint and Sandy—represent a notable shift in character options and a reminder that the creator continues to refine the game even a decade on.
