Stardew Valley 1.7 update adds two new marriage candidates

Developer Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone reveals new marriage candidates in 10th anniversary retrospective

Two new potential paramours are coming to Stardew Valley, developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone revealed during a 10-year anniversary celebration video on Thursday. Following years of player requests, Clint and Sandy will finally be available as marriage candidates as part of the upcoming 1.7 update.

Clint runs the blacksmith shop in Pelican Town in Stardew Valley, and has a romantic interest in another NPC, Emily, whom players can also marry. Hopefully, Stardew Valley players can help turn into a Normal Guy, and not so weirdly Emily-obsessed through romance.

Sandy is a villager who resides in the Calico Desert, where she runs the seeds and furnishings shop, the Oasis. Sandy never leaves the Oasis, leading to a potentially interesting marriage dynamic. She's an enticing romance candidate, with a mysterious air about her — and no shortage of thirsty fans.

Stardew Valley has evolved a lot over its 10-year lifespan, becoming one of the biggest names in cozy gaming and selling over 41 million copies. Solo developer Barone has consistently updated the game. In 2024, a sizable 1.6 update was released, which some fans feared may finally be the end of Barone making additions to Stardew Valley as he shifted his focus to his next title, Haunted Chocolatier. However, Barone told NPR he never wants to "definitively say that the book is ever closed" on Stardew Valley, and this announcement has proven there is even more in the works a decade later.

Barone didn't elaborate much on the decision to focus on Clint and Sandy as Stardew Valley's next marriage candidates. The

Stardew Valley 10-year anniversary video is mainly a look back at the early development of the game and how it has evolved, both in terms of gameplay updates and fan response.

The fanfare that's erupted over this announcement shows just how enduring the legacy of Stardew Valley is. Though players have been modding their own content into the game for years, including marriage candidates, it simply hits differently when it comes from Barone himself.

Stardew Valley is available on Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC, and Xbox One, if you're looking to finally live that cozy farming life and find a virtual husband or wife.