Stardew Valley Just Shadow-Dropped on Switch 2, and It’s Free (If You Aren't New)

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Written By NLM Team

ConcernedApe apparently decided to play Santa this year, shadow-dropping the next-gen version of his farming sim right in the middle of Christmas dinner.

If you managed to snag a Nintendo Switch 2 and were dreading re-buying your entire library, Eric Barone (aka ConcernedApe) just threw you a massive bone. The shiny new Switch 2 version of Stardew Valley is officially out.

The best part? If you already own the game on the original Switch, this upgrade is completely free. If you are one of the three people on Earth who hasn't bought it yet, it will cost you the standard $14.99. I was fully prepared to open my wallet again because I have zero self-control, so getting this gratis feels like a heist.

Finally, Inventory Management That Doesn't Suck

This isn't just a resolution bump, the update actually utilizes the new hardware in ways I didn't expect. The biggest addition is full mouse support, which leverages the new Joy-Con features to let you drag-and-drop furniture without wanting to throw your controller through the screen.

If you have ever tried to decorate your farmhouse with a joystick, you know the pain. It’s like trying to perform surgery with oven mitts. This update allegedly fixes that, making the UI feel more like the PC version.

The Chaos of 8-Player Co-op

The multiplayer is getting a massive steroid injection that might actually break your friend group. The headline feature is the expanded online mode, which now supports up to 8 players. That is 8 people running around, ignoring crops, and fighting over who gets to marry Sebastian. It’s going to be absolute chaos, and I can’t wait.

On the local front, 4-player split-screen is natively supported, which is great for couch co-op. But the real kicker is the "Game Share" integration. You can apparently use the Switch 2's system-level sharing to play 4-player co-op with friends using a single copy of the game. I have no idea how that got past Nintendo's legal team, but I am not asking questions.

The Inevitable Launch Janky-ness

Of course, it wouldn't be a 2025 video game release without a few technical gremlins. Barone took to X (formerly Twitter) almost immediately to apologize for "unspecified issues" plaguing the launch version.

He took full responsibility and promised fixes are coming ASAP. It is honestly refreshing to see a dev just say "my bad" instead of blaming my internet connection or posting a generic PR jpeg. The rollout is currently staggering across time zones, so if you don't see it yet, stop refreshing the eShop like a maniac and go eat some leftovers.

One More Day... Again

It’s rare to see a developer support a game this hard nearly a decade after release, especially with a free next-gen patch that actually adds mechanics rather than just upscaling textures. While the launch bugs are annoying, Barone's track record suggests they'll be squashed by the weekend. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a new farm to neglect.

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NLM Team
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