Since releasing on PC in February 2016, Stardew Valley has racked up critical praise and substantial sales numbers. Console gamers have been kept in the dark, but fortunately, good news has arrived. Creator Eric Barone has announced that the farming simulator will be coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in December.
Inspired by the long-running Harvest Moon franchise, Stardew Valley is about learning how to live the farming life. After inheriting their grandfather’s old farm, players are tasked with transforming the dilapidated piece of land into a bustling source of prosperity. Of course, there’s more to this lifestyle than just tending to crops and animals. You’ll be able to explore the surrounding town, get to know your neighbors, and even start a family with your sweetheart.
Even when acknowledging Marvelous’ popular series, Stardew Valley is somewhat of an anomaly in today’s gaming landscape. In talking about the port, Barone explained just why he wanted to create this unique experience.
I spent over four years developing Stardew Valley, inspired by games that I loved as a child such as Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. Although the idea of a “farming RPG” might have seemed odd at first, the games were very addictive and had a heartwarming charm that stuck with me. With Stardew Valley, my goal was to recreate that special feeling and bring it to modern platforms.
In addition to the upcoming PS4 and Xbox One versions of the title, Barone also revealed that the indie smash will be coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2017. The game was originally scheduled to be released for the Nintendo Wii U, but the team at ConcernedApe made “the difficult choice” to move development over to the Switch. Could this be one of the games accompanying the launch of the console in 2017?
Stardew Valley is currently slated to arrive on the PS4 on December 13, with the Xbox One edition following on December 14. The port will carry a cost of $14.99, and is already up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store.