When it comes to E-sports there are a few things that come to mind. The fighting game genre has had Evo, with large pots and intense matchups. The Overwatch League has done very well for itself, appearing on ESPN. And of course, you have the classic shooters that helped blow up E-sports such as Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Battlefield, and others. But have you ever thought of a happy little farming game about growing crops and getting married like Stardew Valley?
Well, this is the world we live in now. Announced on Twitter by @Concernedape, the developer behind Stardew Valley, and in conjunction with @UnsurpassableZ, the first-ever Stardew Valley Cup has been announced. It will have four teams of “some of Stardew’s most dedicated players in their element!” and feature “a prize pool of over $40k.”
As part of the video, Unserpassable Z states that the competition will feature “over 100 different challenges that explore all different parts of Stardew Valley.” The challenges offer points based on their difficulty and range from something simple like naming your horse, all the way to completing the community center or reaching floor 100 in the Skull Cavern.
Obviously, this tournament will mix not just playing the game, but speedrunning it as well. Since the competitors are all well versed with the game it will most likely come down to how well they work in their respective teams to complete their tasks.
As a massive fan of the Story of Seasons Franchise, my philosophy to farming games is kicking back and taking it slow. That being said, with the popularity of Stardew Valley, this is sure to have its audience. If you would like to watch it, it will be starting September 4th, 9 am PST on the UnsurpassableZ twitch channel.
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A Nintendo Switch trailer was also released.
According to SteamDB.
An announcement trailer was also released.