Today there shall be rejoicing! The highly anticipated multiplayer update for Stardew Valley is available now. There are a few caveats: it’s only available on PC (and even then, GOG users will have to wait a few more days) and it’s currently in Beta.
Stardew Valley 1.3 update beta is now available for testing on Steam! Instructions here: https://t.co/zz4EGwGuHm
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) April 30, 2018
To opt into the open beta, right click on the game in your Steam library and select Properties. Go to the Betas tab and type in the password – jumpingjunimos – and click Check Code. That should open up the beta option from the drop down menu directly above it. Select that and your game should begin downloading the update from Steam.
The developers warn that as this is an unstable beta, everyone should back up their saved games before downloading the patch, and remove any mods that haven’t been updated to work with 1.3.
Save files are located in %APPDATA%\StardewValley\Saves on Windows, or ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves on Mac and Linux.
You can play multiplayer by starting a new game or even by using an existing save (though you should still back it up just in case). For an existing game you’ll need to get Robin to build some cabins for your friends, which opens the game up to allow for multiplayer. Alternatively you can start a new game with cabins pre-built by opening the co-op menu and selecting Host New Farm.
Players should be able to join their games through their Steam friends list, or by having the host invite them through Steam. An invite code may also be used so that GOG and Steam users can play together, though GOG users must be using the optional GOG Galaxy client.
Up to four total players can share a farm together. Players have their own inventories, skills, and NPC relationships but share money and obviously the farm space. You can even marry each other to able to live in the same house together.
The major 1.3 Update is also adding a bunch of new content outside of single player, such as hats on horses. A full detailed list of patch notes is still forthcoming.
Stardew Valley released in 2016 as the indie darling of the year, and was one of Pixelkin’s Games of the Year. It has been ported to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The developer has previously stated that the Switch will receive the multiplayer update before the other consoles.
