Stardew Valley‘s a great game, and an equally good time-waster. And now you can waste your life away growing digital fruit and veg with your friends!
The developer does caution players to backup their saves in case of corruption when they opt-in to the beta. Also, the beta version will break any mods that you’re currently running, at least if the mod authors don’t update or fork them for the beta.
Here’s how to opt into the beta and start playing with friends:
- In your Games Library, right click on Stardew Valley
- Select Properties → Betas
- Enter the Beta access code “jumpingjunimos” and press Check Code
- After this, select the beta branch option on the Beta selection drop down list above
Once you’ve got the beta update downloaded and installed, you can then use an existing save/farm and invite friends to it, or start a new one. Sadly, the beta is currently only accessible to Steam users.
This co-op update allows up to four players to cooperate building a farm and engaging the various gameplay mechanics in Stardew Valley. Friends can play online or via LAN. One special circumstance is that all world updates, money and the farm itself are universal for all players. Player inventory, NPC relationships and skill choices are all tied to the individual player though.
The game also scales difficulty according to the number of players, affecting such things as profit margins and availability of rare resources. So be on the watch out for that in your multiplayer games.
If you’ve never heard of Stardew Valley before, the short version is that it’s an indie-developed farming sim in the same vein as Harvest Moon. Check out the trailer below. Stardew Valley is available on PC, Mac OS X, Linux. PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won’t be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town’s most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
