The short answer is yes. Based on a recent post from ConcernedApe, it sounds like the Stardew Valley Switch update could be months away.
The long answer is that investing in a handheld PC opens players up to endless cozy indie games available on Steam, and you will always be the first to receive content updates in the future!
Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone acknowledges the long wait for the Stardew Valley 1.6 Switch, console, and mobile release.
Stardew Valley's highly anticipated 1.6 content update released for PC in March 2024, and 5 months later, Stardew Valley fans are still waiting for the release on console. ConcernedApe let fans know in a recent comment on X that the 1.6 port to console and mobile is still in the works, and his next project Haunted Chocolatier has taken a backseat in favor of finishing the 1.6 Stardew Valley update.
ConcernedApe released this comment on X earlier last week:
With no designated release date, it's hard to not be discouraged. However, ConcernedApe has valid reasons to be cautious about console releases. Earlier this year, the developers of the cozy game Coral Island had massive problems porting their content updates to console, causing major game crashes and unhappy players. And unfortunately, Coral Island is still not available on the Nintendo Switch due to publishing issues covered by a non-disclosure agreement.
Whatever goes into porting updates from PC to console, it's clearly harder than it looks!
Should game developers release games in early access or wait until the game is fully finished?
I would rather wait longer for a complete game
I like getting to play new games in early access
Instead of waiting for the Stardew Valley 1.6 Switch and console release, should you cave and get a handheld PC?
The answer is yes. There are plenty of benefits to getting a handheld PC besides just playing the new Stardew Valley update, and the handheld PC will pay off in the long run.
Handheld PCs are still very new, with the original Steam Deck releasing in February 2022 and its main competitor, the Asus ROG Ally releasing in June 2023. As the handheld PC market develops, more companies are coming out with alternatives, and game support for these handheld computers is only improving.
Handheld PCs are an amazing option for gamers that want to play indie games that are only available on Steam without investing thousands into a full gaming setup.
Everyone knows that computer gaming can easily turn into an expensive hobby. PC setups require a desk, the actual computer, at least one monitor, and peripherals like keyboard, mouse, and headset. Although it's possible to find all of these things secondhand or on a budget, even the cheapest PC setups will be more expensive than the Asus ROG Ally that retails for about $450.
Although Nintendo has basically had a monopoly on the handheld console market since the Nintendo Switch's release in 2017, companies like Asus and Valve have found a way to improve on Nintendo's design. Nintendo is gearing up for the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, but publishers will likely have the same problems they are now with porting games to the Switch and Nintendo E-store.
Although the Valve Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally are more expensive than the Nintendo Switch, these handheld PCs allow players to access the entire Steam library and even mod their games like on a regular PC.
The Asus ROG Ally even has a docking station similar to the Nintendo Switch, allowing gamers to play on a bigger screen at home.
Cozy gamers should invest in a handheld PC to get game updates as soon as they happen, play indie games that might never reach the Nintendo E-store, and experience modding their favorite cozy games!
On average, it takes between 6 months to a year for a game released on Steam to make it to the Nintendo E-store. In the case of Coral Island, sometimes it never even happens! One of my favorite games, Ooblets, released in July 2020 on Steam and didn't make it to Nintendo until September 2022. What if it takes just as long for the Stardew Valley update? And then with his next project, Haunted Chocolatier?
As someone who's played on every console: Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, and on a computer, I think handheld PCs like the Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck are the perfect in-between option for gamers that want access to computer games but don't want to invest in a full desk setup. Personally, I don't think you need a desk and computer unless you want to play games competitively.
If your vibe is just relaxing with a cozy game on the couch or in bed, investing in a handheld PC would give you access to every cozy game as soon as it releases, and you would be able to play Stardew Valley 1.6! You could even access Nexus Mods and download mods for Stardew Valley too. Check out these 20 witchy mods you could download for Stardew Valley if you had a handheld PC!
If you invested in a handheld PC, you would never have to wait for updates and new games again!
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