Nintendo Switch 2 owners started the day with a very pleasant surprise. The popular life simulation game Stardew Valley, which has stood the test of time, has quietly released its next-generation version, originally planned for Fall 2025. This sudden release, dubbed a “shadowdrop,” was a great gift to players. The new version of the game is now available on the Nintendo eShop and stands out with the advantages it brings.

Completely free upgrade for existing owners

This gesture by developer ConcernedApe covers users who already own the original Switch version. If you have the old version of the game in your library, you don’t need to pay anything to upgrade to the Switch 2 version. For first-time buyers, the price is $14.99. The file size has increased from 1.6 GB to 2.3 GB, and it also supports old save files. This means your progress on your farm can be transferred to the new console without being lost.

While the Switch 2 version doesn’t offer revolutionary graphical innovations, it includes important gameplay features. Thanks to the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, mouse mode support has been added to the game. Additionally, it offers split-screen support for up to four players on the same screen and multiplayer for up to eight players via Nintendo Switch Online. Thanks to the GameShare feature, it’s possible to play together over a local network with three other nearby console owners who don’t own the game.

The game’s developer, Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, states that work is ongoing on the 1.7 update. Unlike the delays experienced with the previous update, the goal is to release the new patch simultaneously on all platforms. Meanwhile, the collaboration with the popular game Among Us continues. Players can access Stardew Valley-themed cosmetics in an event that runs until February 18, 2026.

So, are you ready to farm again on Switch 2? Are you planning to try out the new multiplayer features? Share your thoughts in the comments!