Stardew Valley just celebrated its 10th anniversary, and creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone made it one to remember. In a special anniversary video published on 26 February 2026, he confirmed two brand-new marriage candidates coming to Stardew Valley in the upcoming Patch 1.7: Clint the blacksmith and Sandy from the Calico Desert. Here is everything confirmed so far.
Key Facts at a Glance
- What is new: Two new marriageable characters (Clint and Sandy)
- Which update: Stardew Valley Patch 1.7
- Release date: No confirmed date yet
- Price: Free update for existing owners
- Platforms: Stardew Valley is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile
- Announced by: ConcernedApe (Eric Barone) via the official 10th Anniversary video
Who Are Clint and Sandy?
Clint: The Blacksmith of Pelican Town
Clint has been part of Stardew Valley since the game launched in 2016. He runs the Blacksmith shop on the west side of Pelican Town, where players regularly visit him to upgrade their tools and crack open geodes. Despite being a familiar face, Clint has never been a romanceable character until now.
A big part of why fans have wanted Clint as a marriage candidate is his existing storyline with Emily, one of the current bachelorettes. Clint clearly has feelings for Emily, but those feelings go unrequited. Players who choose to romance Emily themselves witness some surprisingly awkward and sad moments from Clint, which makes his character feel unfinished. Adding him as a full marriage candidate gives his storyline the depth it has long deserved.
Sandy: The Manager of the Oasis
Sandy runs the Oasis shop in the Calico Desert, which means players generally do not encounter her until they have progressed far enough to repair the bus and travel to the desert. She is warm and friendly, but the fact that she never leaves the Oasis has always limited how much players could actually connect with her.
Fans have wanted more Sandy content for years, and her addition as a marriage candidate will likely bring new scenes, dialogue, and perhaps even new ways to interact with her earlier in the game. Exactly how the romance path will work has not been confirmed yet, but the community is already excited.
What Did ConcernedApe Confirm?
ConcernedApe revealed the news at the end of the 10th Anniversary video by reading the two names from an envelope. Here is a breakdown of everything officially confirmed:
- Clint and Sandy will become marriage candidates in Stardew Valley 1.7. Players will be able to marry either of them in addition to all existing bachelors and bachelorettes.
- Patch 1.7 will include other new content, though no further details were shared during the anniversary video.
- No release date has been set for Patch 1.7 at this time.
- Early builds of Stardew Valley were shown in the video, walking through the game’s development from a 2012 prototype called “Sprout Valley” all the way to launch day in 2016. ConcernedApe confirmed that none of these early builds should be considered canon in the Stardew Valley universe.
- The game sold just under 40,000 copies on its first day, at which point ConcernedApe knew it would be a success.
A Look Back: The 10th Anniversary Video
The anniversary video doubled as a fascinating retrospective on how Stardew Valley came to be. ConcernedApe walked fans through several key development milestones:
2012 — The “Sprout Valley” Prototype: The very earliest build, six months into development, already had a functioning game that closely resembled the original Harvest Moon. Even at this stage, the basic layout of Pelican Town, the bus, and other familiar elements were present in recognisable form.
2013 — The Art Overhaul: By 2013, the game had been renamed “Stardew Valley” and the art had been updated to something close to its final style. However, this version was more sandbox-focused and less RPG-driven. The mines at this stage were procedurally generated, requiring players to mine into walls to find ore and secrets. ConcernedApe ultimately scrapped this system, calling it “too ambitious of a concept for the scope of this game.” He also showed off a scrapped underground Goblin Village, noting that “just because an idea sounds cool doesn’t mean it’s fun or the right idea in practice.”
2014 — The Community Centre Arrives: This build introduced the Community Centre, though Joja Mart, Hat Mouse, and interior house decoration were not yet part of the game.
August 2015 — Nearly There: A build from just six months before launch looks almost identical to the final release, though ConcernedApe pointed out small differences like the mailbox location, the interior shape of the player’s house, and the final design of the main character.
Community Reaction
The community reaction has been a mix of excitement and debate, particularly around Clint. During the video premiere, many viewers in the live chat expressed hesitation about Clint as a marriage option, with comments wishing the slot had gone to other characters like the Wizard or Willy. Sandy, however, received a warmer reception overall, with fans keen to spend more time with a character they have long felt was underutilised.
What We Still Do Not Know
There are a few important questions that remain unanswered for now:
- When will Patch 1.7 release? No release window has been announced.
- What other new content will 1.7 include? ConcernedApe confirmed additional content is coming but gave no specifics.
- How will Sandy’s romance work given her Desert location? She currently never leaves the Oasis, so it remains to be seen whether the update will introduce new ways to meet her.
What Is ConcernedApe Working on Alongside 1.7?
ConcernedApe is developing Stardew Valley Patch 1.7 at the same time as his next game, Haunted Chocolatier, a confectionery-themed game where players run a chocolate shop that also happens to be haunted. No release date has been announced for that title either.
How to Play Stardew Valley
You can purchase Stardew Valley on PC via Steam, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store, on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S via the Microsoft Store, on Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop, and on iOS and Android via their respective app stores. The game typically retails at around £10.99 / $14.99, though it frequently goes on sale. Patch 1.7 will be a free update for all existing owners.
Leave a Reply