More than four players no longer requires farmhand XML cloning on current PC

In the local Stardew Valley 1.6.15 PC build, the the multiplayer system constructor ultimately initializes playerLimit to 8. Treat eight players as the current local PC baseline before considering any override.

Supported setup checklist

1. Confirm that every player is on a compatible game release and distribution.
2. Create or ask Robin to build enough legitimate cabins for joining farmhands.
3. Set the intended player limit no higher than the supported local baseline.
4. Back up the save before adding players, changing mods, or migrating hosts.
5. Test one join, sleep, reconnect, inventory, and festival cycle before a large session.

Do not duplicate farmhand XML blocks

Copying a <farmhand> block and inventing a UniqueMultiplayerID is not a standard expansion method. Identity collisions, malformed nesting, duplicate cabins, and overwritten farmhand state can damage a save. The legacy report that one player’s data overwrote another is a reason to remove the workflow, not a troubleshooting footnote.

Platform boundary

The verified value above is for the local PC build. Console online limits, split-screen limits, mobile availability, and modded-server behavior must be checked separately for the exact platform and release.

Version: Stardew Valley 1.6.15.24356.