Eight months after the Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley was released digitally, a physical edition of the upgrade has popped up at Fangamer.
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The physical Switch 2 edition, which is listed at $39, might not be the most worthwhile purchase for anyone who already owns the OG. It technically includes the original Switch version of the game, which is almost always under $35 on Amazon, and the otherwise free Switch 2 upgrade pack.
As someone who doesn’t have a physical edition of the game, however, I'm feeling very inclined. What you’re really paying those $5 extra for is a beautiful cartridge and the new Switch 2 packaging. Five years ago I would have said that’s a pretty silly thing to cough up a couple extra bucks for, but in 2026, I have nothing but praise for any commitment to physical media.
Out February 5, 2027
Stardew Valley - Switch 2 Edition (Physical)
The Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley is currently available for preorder from Fangamer, Target, and Best Buy. All retailers have the game listed at $39.99 with a release date of February 5, 2026.
Some Reddit users are already theorizing that date may line up with the release of Update 1.7, but that seems a little far-fetched. The Fangamer listing confirms the Switch 2 edition includes the 1.6 update of the game, with future free updates “available to download as they’re released.”
While Fangamer notes the final product may look different from the mock-up, I think we can trust the main strokes. The listing shows a variation of the OG’s box art, with the same farm and animals but in a lighter, more pastel color scheme, which can be reversed to show off a "Joja-themed" cover. It also comes with an 18-page guidebook, presumably the same one as the existing Switch version.
Stardew, which was originally released on Steam in 2016, got its first physical release for the Xbox One and PS4 a year later. That Switch edition, which also produced in collaboration with Fangamer, was released as both a Standard and a Deluxe edition back in 2020.
The new Switch 2 edition seems to only be getting the Standard treatment. For now, at least. If you do want all of the extra Deluxe edition goodies, there’s nothing stopping you from grabbing that for the OG Switch and then getting the Switch 2 upgrade pack for free through the Nintendo Store.
I’ve already bought Stardew digitally on my PC and Switch, and I’m still definitely considering grabbing the physical release for Switch 2. Maybe I'm particularly vulnerable to cash grabs these days, but just a few years ago I was 100% side-eyeing a certain Bethesda game for getting a million different editions.
The reality is the physical media landscape has shifted dramatically in the past decade, and any release on disc or cartridge seems to take particular... dedication. PlayStation, citing the continued shift to digital purchases, has committed to abandoning discs altogether.
Nintendo, on the other hand, recently reported that almost 40% of purchases of its games are still from physical editions. The reality is that I’m willing to use the scraps in my wallet to support that.
In the case of Stardew, a solo-developed masterpiece that’s consistently gotten updates over the course of 10 years, I’m even more open to celebrating (and investing in) that preservation.
Stardew Valley recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. We re-reviewed the game back in 2024, giving the cozy masterpiece a well-deserved 10/10. We also got the chance to sit down with creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) earlier this year to learn more about the independent developer’s journey to now and what he plans for Stardew going forward.
While there’s still no exact release date, we know a little about what to expect from the next major Stardew update, 1.7, including two new marriage candidates. The developer has also confirmed he is "still grinding" on his next standalone game, Haunted Chocolatier.
Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles. %!s()
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Rosie O’Donnell is getting some serious praise for her weeklong talk show return. On Monday, Aug. 17, she kicked off her four-night stint guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, in what Kimmel called a “special treat” for Trump. New O’Donnell-hosted episodes will air every night through Thursday, Aug. 20 on ABC, which can also be livestreamed online via DirecTV (with a five-day free trial), Fubo (with a five-day free trial), Sling (in select markets) and Hulu + Live TV.
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For those not yet subscribed, either DirecTV’s free trial or Fubo’s free trial will cover O’Donnell’s full week of hosting at no cost. Alternatively, new episodes will drop on a one-day delay on Hulu/Disney+, however the service does not offer a free trial.
At a Glance: How to Watch Rosie O’Donnell Host Jimmy Kimmel Live!
When: Monday, Aug. 17-Thursday, Aug. 20, 11:35 p.m. PT/ET
The day after airing on cable, new episodes will drop on Hulu/Disney+, and while the streamer doesn’t offer a free trial directly, fans can get free access through any of DirecTV’s Signature packages, which include the Hulu and Disney bundle and offer a five-day free trial.
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Barcelona have confirmed the signing of Rodri from Manchester City in a deal worth £65.4m.
The Spain World Cup winner and former Ballon d'Or winner, who helped City win four Premier League titles and a Champions League crown, has signed a four-year contract with the LaLiga club.
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Rodri, 30, had one year left on his City contract and, while they wanted him to stay and sign an extension, Barcelona's third offer proved to be too good to turn down.
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Barcelona had bids of £40m and £55m rejected by City before the deal was eventually agreed.
Enzo Maresca's side are pursuing replacements for both Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders, who is set to join Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah for around £51m.
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City remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, despite missing the deadline to launch a bid by 5pm on August 14, and are also in talks with Lille over a deal for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Lille are understood to be looking for around £85m to sell Bouaddi and talks between the clubs were confirmed by their head coach Davide Ancelotti at the weekend.
How big a loss will Rodri be for City?
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City's record without Rodri in the starting line-up since his arrival from Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2019/20 season offers a worrying insight into life minus him in the midfield.
In the 87 games when he was absent from the starting line-up, they suffered 20 defeats, just one fewer than their tally of losses across the 179 games with him starting. In fact, the rate at which they suffered defeats doubled without him starting.
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The win percentage without him dropped to 62.1 per cent from 71.5 per cent, while goals scored decreased and goals conceded increased.
City are simply not the same team without Rodri featuring and the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield was the latest example of this.
IN FULL: Rodri pens City farewell to fans
Rodri has penned a farewell letter to Man City fans after his departure to Barcelona was confirmed.
"Dear City fans, I found that saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things in life but I am going to try," it said, on the club's official website.
"It's hard to find the words to express how much gratitude, love and support me and my family have experienced all these years.
"I remember how I felt when I arrived, signing for the big Manchester City. It was a moment of pure excitement - 'wow I am going to play with Kevin, Aguero, Silva, Bernardo, John and many others.' I couldn't stop smiling.
"And then Pep, waiting to teach me everything from day one. Pep I can tell you now, I couldn't handle all those tactics in my head.
"But a question came to me, 'could we handle all these expectations for the next years.' I think that time answered the question.
"I knew I came into a top team but I never thought we could be able to create the legacy we made winning trophies, fans around the world, love and respect. We made an example to inspire the next generations not only because the success, also because the way we did it. And the fans were with us every step of the way.
"Many incredible moments come to my mind.
"My first trophy at City, in my first game.
"The last minute winners, like Arsenal away.
"Scoring in the Villa game to reach the Premier League, when it looked so tough.
"Scoring the goal to win the Champions League that we all wanted so much.
"The incredible reception you gave me after the Balon d'Or. You cannot imagine how proud I am to be the first player to win this award in a sky blue shirt.
"Making history, with the Treble, with Four in a Row. We saw things they'll never see.
"And in the bad moments, also, you never let me down. My first day back on the pitch I realised how much you love me and I understood how special these fans were.
"City didn't just make me a grow as a player. They made me grow as a human.
"I saw my brother graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University.
"I could see my girlfriend working for the NHS.
"Manchester shaped my whole life.
"I will never forget stepping onto the pitch, seeing a sea of blue sing 'nah, nah, nah, nah…CITY', taking my scooter into town for a coffee, walking through the parks listening to Oasis and always loving Manchester's great rain.
"So City fans, it's time to say goodbye, thanks to the club, the fans, the staff and my teammates. This journey couldn't be the same without you, my heart will always be Blue." %!s()
When Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer said they wanted the fifth and final season of the Netflix sci-fi drama to be a “mega movie,” the VFX team knew they would have their work cut out for them.
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The coming-of-age series requires “way more shots than are normally done on a two-hour feature,” VFX supervisor Betsy Paterson tells THR, noting that the show’s overall budget was expanded for the final season. This allowed the crew to execute an epic conclusion to the series’ decade-long run that saw the beloved Hawkins gang unite for a final showdown to take down Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
However, before the VFX team could tackle the monsters, they had to make the otherworldly dimensions that the series is known for seem realistic. The team relied heavily on practical effects, which were later punched up with visual effects. Paterson notes it’s important to the Duffer brothers to have sets that feel as tactile as possible, so “no matter how crazy this stuff gets, you are really seeing it from the perspective of these kids who are in the real world,” she says. “We’re always building things for the actors to interact with.”
Two examples are the wall in the interdimensional wormhole known as the Upside Down that serves as a portal between Earth and the alternate realm of the Abyss, and the liquefying room inside the Hawkins National Lab where Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) are trapped.
“We built a big chunk of that membrane wall for Hopper [David Harbour] and Eleven [Millie Bobby Brown] to climb on,” Paterson explains. “The goo in the melting room was real goo wherever it touches anything or the actors.”
When it came to the Upside Down, the VFX team fortunately already had an established look from the previous four seasons to build upon. They couldn’t say the same about the Abyss, aka Dimension X, however, which was introduced in the final season and had to be designed from scratch.
“There was some talk about possibly filming it in the real desert,” Paterson says of the new alternate world. “In the end, the production logistics were too much, but that gave us a base of a look for it. We scanned and took as many reference photos as we could so that the rocks and the geography looked like a real place and not just a kind of mystery CG world.”
What Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven sees before VFX are added for the series’ final showdown The full scale of the Mind Flayer in the last battle was brought to life postproduction. The cast filming a scene in what would be the new alternate world, the Abyss. The Hawkins gang looking out into the CG-fabricated universe, created in post.
Courtesy of Netflix
As fans know, no world in Stranger Things is ever void, as there are always monsters lurking nearby, namely Vecna. While the resident villain’s appearance in season five led to social media jokes about him being on Ozempic, Paterson clarifies that Vecna’s slimmer physique has to do with how he rebuilt himself after almost being destroyed by Eleven in season four.
Unlike previous seasons in which Bower wore full practical prosthetics, this time around the team relied more heavily on digital effects to accomplish his new look. “He is now much more monster than human, and he has caused that to happen. He created himself, really. So that’s what we’re seeing with all the vines and the way they move — you can see the blood going through them,” Paterson explains. “It’s an immediate signifier of how much more powerful he is now.”
That power was fully shown when it was revealed that Vecna was working as one entity with another massive monster, the Mind Flayer, whose scale was fully witnessed in the final battle against Eleven and the Hawkins gang.
“They wanted him as big as we could possibly get, but at a certain point you can’t film it. And it’s just so ridiculous that he would even notice the kids, much less get defeated by them,” Paterson notes of the cosmic CGI creature. “We went back and forth on that quite a bit and, after lots of motion tests and animation tests by Weta FX, we ended up where we landed with the size.”
Looking at the season as a whole, it’s easy to assume all the monsters and alternate worlds would be the most difficult to pull off. But for Paterson, the most challenging scene was the opening sequence with a young Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, who was only 11 years old when Stranger Things debuted in 2016.
“I felt so much pressure in that scene because we all know what he looked like,” Paterson admits. “He’s not in season one that much because he gets kidnapped, so we didn’t have a huge library of footage of him at that age. Weta was able to take every bit that we could find: outtakes, every press photograph, walking on the red carpet. They used all of it to build a young Will that looked like Noah.”
With the help of Schnapp and Luke Kokotek, a young stand-in actor, the VFX team was able to replace Kokotek’s face so he would appear as season one Will.
The scene serves as an emblem of the show’s 10-year journey. And with everything coming to a literal end in season five as the Upside Down — which has been a central part of the show throughout its run — gets destroyed behind Eleven in the finale, the VFX team had to leave audiences with a memorable last impression.
“When you see Hawkins High being destroyed and the Wheeler house, normally we try not to put too much detail into shots that are only going to be seen once, but it was worth it for that scene,” Paterson says. “It was a lot of fun going frame by frame and spotting all the little stuff that they built just to have it be destroyed.”
This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.%!s()
French toast is one of my favorite breakfasts to make in my air fryer.
Aefa Mulholland
When everyone else was buying air fryers years ago, I held out. I still hauled out my deep-fat fryer and gallons of oil or wrestled with various frying pans and griddles.
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Eventually, though, I gave in and bought a Gourmia 7-quart digital air fryer — I was astounded and delighted by how easy it was to use. Now, I love cooking with the appliance so much that I've even bought a second one.
From breakfast to dessert, here are some of my favorite things to make in an air fryer.
Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a quick, tasty dinner.
Stuffed portobello mushrooms make for a nice meal.
Aefa Mulholland
There's no end to the list of things you can pile on a portobello cap and pop in the air fryer.
A recipe from the blog Spend With Pennies pairs them with cheddar and bacon, but I know some people swear by spinach and cream cheese or garlic and Parmesan. I've also been inspired by crab-stuffed mushrooms with Gouda or ones that are a play on French onion soup.
I make mine with whatever I have on hand, but I particularly liked the batch I made with feta, cheddar, spinach, artichokes, breadcrumbs, and lemon.
I pop the caps in the air fryer for a few minutes, gill-side down, to let any water drain out before flipping them and adding toppings.
Breaded or panko-crusted shrimp turns out incredibly well in an air fryer.
Panko-crusted shrimp is easy to make in an air fryer.
Aefa Mulholland
There are tons of recipes out there for air-fried breaded shrimp.
I prefer mine served with a hint of heat, like the "bang bang" shrimp recipe from the recipe blog Stay Snatched. I also like the shrimp paired with lemon aioli.
Setting up a three-bowl dipping station is the best way to bread the shrimp quickly and efficiently — one bowl for flour, one for a whisked egg (sometimes I add mustard or mayo), and one for panko.
However, I've also made crispy shrimp by simply dipping lightly oiled shrimp in panko before tossing them in the air fryer.
I put nut-crusted chicken on the menu again and again.
I make nut-crusted chicken with crushed nuts and bread crumbs.
Aefa Mulholland
Air-fried, nut-crusted chicken comes out moist, delicious, and with a perfect crust in just 20 minutes.
Depending on what kind of air fryer you have, it might take a little more or less time — I've found my basket air fryer cooks faster and my convection-oven air fryer takes slightly longer.
The blog Where Is My Spoon has a delicious, easy recipe for panko-breaded chicken. I adapted it by using half crushed nuts and half panko and adding smoked paprika and Parmesan for extra flavor.
Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are my favorite appetizer.
Crab cakes with fire-roasted green chiles are a great appetizer.
Aefa Mulholland
Crab cakes are one of the tastiest things I've cooked since getting an air fryer.
I followed a Food Network recipe, substituting a can of fire-roasted green chiles and chipotle powder for the listed chipotle chiles and adobo sauce, just for convenience.
A creamy, lemony chipotle sauce is the perfect accompaniment. It's so tangy and delicious that I could drink it.
Crispy tofu can be made with or without cornstarch.
I add crunch to marinated, crispy fried tofu with sesame seeds.
Aefa Mulholland
I like the simple recipe for cornstarch-free, garlic-and-soy sauce tofu on the blog Live Eat Learn. It reminded me how much better the texture is after pressing the moisture out of the tofu before cooking (I used a heavy Dutch oven to squash my block).
I've also made crispy fried tofu with a ginger, tamari, and garlic marinade, finished with sesame seeds for extra crunch. The resulting tangy saltiness makes it a good bacon substitute for vegetarians and a delicious addition to Buddha bowls.
Corn "ribs" are an excellent air-fried option for vegetarians.
Corn "ribs" or "riblets" can be served with barbecue sauce.
Aefa Mulholland
You can make corn "ribs" in an air fryer using all sorts of recipes.
I've used one from the blog Plant Based Folk. These corn "ribs" can be paired with elote-style seasoning, barbecue sauce, or even masala spice for an Indian-inspired take on the trend.
Pro tip: Microwave the cobs for seven to nine minutes before cutting them to make quartering easier.
Every batch of Buffalo cauliflower I make is devoured almost immediately in my house.
Buffalo cauliflower pairs well with celery and blue cheese.
Aefa Mulholland
Buffalo cauliflower "wings" are a top choice any night of the week — it takes just 15 minutes to make crispy, spicy florets.
Simply whisk hot sauce, oil, garlic powder, and salt, and use the mixture to coat the cauliflower before tossing it into a single layer in the air fryer. I found the recipe I usually follow on Live Eat Learn.
Serve with blue cheese or another creamy dip.
Grilled cheese is a quick, simple air-fryer favorite.
I make my grilled sandwich with goat cheese, apple, and cranberry sauce.
Aefa Mulholland
Air-fried grilled cheese is a good, quick lunch. Larger air fryers easily fit a few sandwiches, or you can chop them into half-sized sandwiches to cram more in a smaller basket.
My favorite grilled cheese is a take on a recipe from The Kitchn, but with added apple slices.
I also love rustling up any cheese and jam, jelly, or fruit combination; a current favorite is ham, cheddar, and banana.
Pro tip: Cook at a lower temperature until the cheese melts, and then turn the heat up to toast the bread for an extra few minutes.
I throw garlic in alongside whatever vegetables I'm roasting.
Roasted garlic is easy to make in my air fryer.
Aefa Mulholland
Cooking garlic in the air fryer takes half as long as cooking it in a regular oven.
One writer from the blog Tasty Oven suggests slicing off the bottom of each head of garlic, cooking a big batch, and freezing the extras.
I like cooking the heads alongside roasted vegetables such as honeyed parsnips or carrots and then crushing the cloves to make garlic bread.
Apple hand pies are fiddly to make from scratch, but worth the effort.
You can make or buy the dough and filling for air-fried apple hand pies.
Aefa Mulholland
Empanada-sized pies are a breeze to make with store-bought apple filling and pie dough. However, making your own lets you choose how much sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon to add.
The blog BellyFull has a great recipe for air-fryer hand pies, whether you're making a premade or homemade version. Both turn out crisp and delicious in a basket air fryer or an oven air fryer. I tried both and couldn't tell the difference.
According to the recipe, the pies last in the fridge for three days and in the freezer for up to two months.
Even cake can turn out perfectly in an air fryer.
I found a recipe for a simple coffee cake with cinnamon and pecans.
Aefa Mulholland
I didn't believe you could bake cakes in an air fryer, but I was proven wrong.
I've made some excellent cheesecakes in my basket air fryer, but the one I keep going back to is a simple coffee cake. I like a recipe from the blog Fork to Spoon.
I'll be working my way through the other recipes on the site, too. I've also enjoyed the air-fryer banana-walnut pound cake and banana-nut bread.
Molten lava cakes are gooey and gorgeous.
Chocolate molten lava cake pairs well with berries and whipped cream.
Aefa Mulholland
Oozing with liquid chocolate, molten lava cakes are irresistible.
I liked a small-batch recipe I found on the blog Essential Omnivore, but I use orange-flavored chocolate for even more flavor.
Pro tip: Only fill your ramekins around ⅔ of the way, or the gooey middles might bubble up all over the bottom of your air fryer.
This story was originally published in February 2023 and most recently updated on August 18, 2026.
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Aefa Mulholland is a writer and chef who lives in Toronto, Canada, and Glasgow, Scotland. She has worked in restaurants and hotels in Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and the US, and written about food and travel for The Irish Times, Miami Herald, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Budget Travel, AOL, Curve, and many, many more publications.
Her travel memoir, "The Scottish Ambassador: Learning How to Be Scottish in America" was published by P+H Books.
A graduate of the Scottish Hotel School, Strathclyde University, Glasgow, Aefa also has a degree in Creative Writing from Canada's University of Guelph.
