Summary
AStardew Valleyplayer was so determined to get their dog into the game that they edited their save data. While there are plenty of mods forStardew Valley, manually tinkering with saves is something the average gamer wouldn’t go so far as to do.
Stardew Valleyplayers can have a petall their own. When booting up the title for the first time, the player is asked whether they prefer cats or dogs. After a few days, Marnie will give them an opportunity to adopt one. Originally, there was just one kind of cat and one kind of dog, but the title has since expanded the options, presenting the player with more varieties and breeds.
ForStardew Valleyplayer and Reddit user CactusGobbler, one of the dog breeds added inStardew Valley1.6’s updatewas a perfect match to their real-world dog. Unfortunately, they had just started up a new farm inStardew Valley1.5 prior to the update’s release, meaning they already had a dog that didn’t look like theirs. Previously, it was possible to alter a pet’s appearance via the altar of illusion, but 1.6 removed this ability when it added the chance to get more than one pet. Taking matters into his own hands, CactusGobbler dug into the save files for the game and hunted down exactly where information on the farmer’s dog was saved, and altered the data to change their dog’s appearance.
How Did a Stardew Valley Player Change Their Dog Breed?
Thankfully, CactusGobbler provided some directions on how he went about doing this. CactusGobbler says he opened up two files relating to the game’s saves, with one being the name of the farm followed by a string of numbers, and “savegameinfo.” In both files, he searched for the word “breed,” which is where the save retains information on what kind of pet the player has. In his particular case, he swapped “1” to “3,” which altered the dog’s appearance to the newer breed that was added to the game.
Players were enthusiastic about CactusGobbler’s efforts, and also complimented him on the cuteness of his dog. A few voiced disappointment that using the altar of illusion on pets was no longer possible. CactusGobbler noted that he knew that getting another pet was a possibility, but since he’s only on the first summer of the game, it would take a long time to reach max friendship with his pet and unlock the ability to get more. Tinkering with the save file may have required some trial and error, but it ultimately took less time than playing through the game untilmax friendship with theStardew Valleypetwas reached.
SinceStardew Valley1.6’s update hasn’t launched for consolesand mobile yet, players who are interested in the new pet breeds should keep this player’s efforts in mind. Altering the save files on those systems isn’t usually a possibility, so players should be careful to choose the pet they want at the start, or prepare to play for a while to unlock more.
Stardew Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
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!
