ConcernedApe on Stardew Valley’s 1.6 patch: ‘There’s a lot more of the update than people think’
It’s fair to say there haven’t been too many Broadway performances with a raucous applause break for the mention of a forthcoming video game patch. And yet, The Town Hall, a 103-year-old music venue in midtown Manhattan, erupted last night at composer Eric Barone’s mention of “the 1.6 update.”
He is, of course, talking about the next major update to Stardew Valley, scheduled for release on March 19 on Windows PC. Barone, better known to the world as ConcernedApe, is the creator of Stardew Valley and the composer of the game’s soundtrack. He was visiting New York as part of a live concert series for the game, with 45 shows happening across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Oceania (most of which sold out in minutes).
Despite the fan fervor, the show feels intimate, with around a dozen musicians performing newly arranged classics from the Stardew Valley soundtrack, mostly following the chronological events of the game, as the seasons go from spring to winter, with some special moments highlighting the various festivals and villagers in the game.
Speaking with Polygon, Barone specifically called out one of his favorite tracks. “‘Dance of the Moonlight Jellies’ is, of course, a big hit. And it’s a special song and it takes place in a tender moment in the game. So I was really happy to see that one.”
Barone worked with Thanapol Setabrahmana, a composer from Thailand, who helped arrange Stardew Valley’s digital soundtrack into something that could be performed by a live orchestra. The end result perfectly captured the chill vibes of the farming sim (save for a brief segment of the show dedicated to the Indiana Jones-esque Journey of the Prairie King minigame, which definitely got the blood pumping).
Beyond the concert series, Barone is predictably focused on the 1.6 update. “It’s stressful, but it’s also exciting,” he said. “The releases are the most fun part of game development. It’s when you actually see people playing it and talking about [the game] and sharing
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