Stardew Valley Celebrates a Decade: Clint and Sandy Join the Marriage Roster in Update 1.7
Today marks the tenth anniversary of Stardew Valley, a monumental milestone for one of the most influential indie titles in gaming history. Despite its age, solo developer Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) continues to nurture the beloved farming simulator with fresh content. To commemorate a decade of success, Barone premiered a retrospective video on YouTube, taking fans on a nostalgic journey through early development builds while simultaneously pulling back the curtain on the highly anticipated 1.7 update.
The headline news from the showcase is the expansion of the game’s social system: the arrival of two new marriage candidates. For the first time in several years, players will have fresh romantic prospects to pursue. At the conclusion of the video, it was revealed that Clint, Pelican Town’s brooding blacksmith, and Sandy, the sunny proprietor of the Oasis in the Calico Desert, will become eligible for marriage.
The choice of Clint is particularly intriguing for the community. Long considered a polarizing figure due to his social awkwardness and specific personality traits, his new status as a bachelor offers Barone a chance to provide the character with significant growth and narrative depth. While Sandy has been a frequent fan favorite, some players may still be holding out hope for other characters like the Wizard or Robin—though the latter’s marital status remains a hurdle for those without community mods.
The anniversary video serves as a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the project’s evolution, showing how a solitary creative vision transformed into a global phenomenon. While Update 1.7 does not yet have a confirmed launch date, it is expected to arrive in the near future.
For those looking to revisit the valley, the game recently received a significant Switch 2 update, introducing local split-screen co-op and native mouse controls for a more versatile experience. Furthermore, Barone’s next endeavor, Haunted Chocolatier, continues to be a focal point for the industry as one of the most anticipated upcoming indie titles.
