Summary
- Stardew Valley's upcoming 8-person multiplayer feature sounds like a fun way for players to learn and explore together, creating more opportunities for fun and collaboration.
- However, large-scale multiplayer sessions can be challenging due to player schedules and resource management, which can hinder overall progression in the game.
- The multiplayer mode is highly customizable, allowing players to adjust settings like money sharing and profit margins to suit their group's preferences, relaxing the game's pace and emphasizing quests and skill development.
Stardew Valley has gone through a swathe of updates, but nothing compares to its game-changing multiplayer upgrade. This feature breathed new life into Stardew Valley, which already has an acclaimed single-player campaign. Multiplayer still uses the same storyline and mechanics as single-player. It just adds additional players as farmhands, which works pretty well. This feature started with four players per server. Developer ConcernedApe will expand this to eight once the 1.6 update drops, which may have a few pros and cons.
Stardew Valley was released in 2016 to critical and commercial success. The farming simulation game tapped into players’ nostalgia for games like Story of Seasons (formerly known as Harvest Moon) and Animal Crossing, letting them prepare, grow, and harvest crops across multiple seasons. Its beautiful 2D-pixel graphics also hearken back to the best Game Boy Advance games of the 2000s. It also has an inclusive marriage system and a story that highlights the importance of community and supporting local farmers. The game just keeps getting better too, as ConcernedApe continues to update it with new features like the upcoming 8-person multiplayer.
Stardew Valley 1.6 Update: New Features Confirmed So Far
Here is a sneak peek of what’s coming in the latest update of Stardew Valley – Version 1.6.
The Pros and Cons of 8-Person Multiplayer in Stardew Valley
The Stardew Valley 1.6 update will encourage fans to test out the 8-person multiplayer feature once it releases. It’s a fun new change, indeed, but it could come with a few consequences in terms of overall gameplay.
Pro: More is Merrier for Most Multiplayer Games
Whether players are competing with friends or helping them out with their farms, more people usually means more opportunities for fun. The new 8-player feature is a great way to get new players into the game, as a squad of players can hop onto a multiplayer server and a Discord call to learn and explore together.
One experienced player can also provide tutoring to the newer ones, and even help in gathering materials to complete quests. While playing through a single-player campaign can be fun, it’s always nice to learn a game with friends. This is especially true for titles that have community and friendship at the forefront, like Stardew Valley.
Con: Progression Could be Difficult for Stardew Valley’s 8-Person Multiplayer
One possible downside of Stardew Valley’s 8-person multiplayer is that not everyone will realistically be present for every session. Just like Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, it can be difficult to organize a multiplayer session with people who have different schedules. This can hamper a group’s progress in-game, especially if they’re sharing money and focusing on getting community center bundle rewards.
Pro: Stardew Valley is Customizable According to a Group’s Preferences
The multiplayer mode is highly customizable according to the group’s preferences using Stadew Valley’s Advanced Options menu. If they feel like they won’t always be complete for 8-player sessions, they can always turn money sharing off. If they feel like they’re progressing too fast because of the sheer size of the party, they can adjust the profit margins so that players earn less. This not only relaxes the game’s pace but also puts greater emphasis on quests and honing skills.
Con: Stardew Valley’s 8-person Multiplayer Could Lead to FOMO for Some Players
The host has to be online for players to access the game. Therefore, it can be difficult for individual players to keep up on their own. If they’re absent for one multiplayer session, they’re sure to miss out on a few days to even a couple of seasons’ worth of profit. The FOMO is even greater with more players, as those behind will be surrounded by farms with the latest crops. It’ll also be difficult for them to keep up with farmers who have already acquired the best Stardew Valley crafting recipes by upgrading their skill level.
Playing with more friends is exciting in a game like Stardew Valley. However, having eight farmhands can seem a bit crowded and chaotic. Players who want to try this out can navigate through the chaos with an organized schedule and a willingness to help their fellow farmers.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- February 26, 2016
- ESRB
- E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
- ConcernedApe
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- Stardew Valley does not currently support crossplay between different consoles and PC
