Summary
Stardew Valleyis home to a diverse cast of characters, each with a unique personality and purpose within the game. Some are more peculiar than others, like the enigmatic Wizard and friendly monster Krobus. However, no one is as mysterious as Mr. Qi, a stranger whom players will first encounter when they leave a Battery Pack inside the tunnel’s lockbox. The more one encounters Mr. Qi aroundStardew Valley, the more strange they seem.
Sole developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone recently launchedUpdate 1.6 forStardew Valley, andit comes with a wide range of improvements to quality-of-life and features. The new content sparked interest in new and old players, as evidenced in the steep and sudden spike in the game’s playerbase from below 40,000 to 50,000 at the start of 2024 to over 236,000 at the time of the update’s release on March 19, according to SteamDB. The 1.6 patch also comes with new quests centered around Mr. Qi, which only has even more players wondering who he truly is.
What Stardew Valley Reveals About Mr. Qi So Far
Upon inserting the Battery Pack in the lockbox, the player will get a note with instructions from Mr. Qi himself. This will send the protagonist into a series of tasks for a quest labeled “The Mysterious Qi.” The requirements for each chore are quite weird, too:
After finishing these tasks, the player will then get a Club Card, which they can use to enter theCasino in the Calico Desert. Here, they’ll finally get a glimpse of Mr. Qi and find out that he operates the building. They’ll also glean a bit more insight into who he is, as he mentions that he was born an ordinary kid, but he made an early decision that changed his life forever. He also constantly tells the player to continuously improve themselves.
Secret Encounters With Mr. Qi in Stardew Valley
Players will encounter Mr. Qi again in different locations inStardew Valley. After the player receives a 100% perfection score, they can accessThe Summitwhich will trigger a cutscene, which was added in Update 1.6. Here, the player is sitting on a bench near a cliff overlooking the town with their spouse. If they don’t have a spouse, they’ll be joined by Mayor Lewis or Morris. They’ll also be greeted byStardew Valley’s supernatural entities like Krobus, the Wizard, and Crop Fairies. Perhaps the most peculiar part is Mr. Qi and Grandpa jointly congratulating the player.
If the player somehow glitches into the summit before they can legitimately do so, a cutscene will play where Mr. Qi is rushing towards them. They’ll pass out and wake up in Harvey’s clinic. Mr. Qi will also reward the player when they readStardew Valley’s Secret Note #10and reach the 100th level of the Skull Cavern. The mysterious Casino operator will congratulate them for reaching that far and give them Iridium Snake Milk as a reward. Drinking this will permanently increase the player’s Health by 25.
The Summit cutscene suggests that Grandpa may be friends with Mr. Qi in some way. The cutscenes for illegitimate access to The Summit and Skull Cavern level 100 suggest that Qi is somehow watching the player’s actions. He does joke to the player that he’s always behind the curtain wherever the player goes to ensure that the “show” is interesting. HisWalnut Room in Ginger Islandis also peculiar, as it contains various magical and technological devices.
Some speculate that Mr. Qi may be a self-insert for ConcernedApe, as his story of an extraordinary event changing his life could parallel Barone’s creation ofStardew Valley.
He also looks out for the protagonist and recognizes their achievements from the shadows, which could also be interpreted as a developer ensuring that their players are happy. Others suggest that he could be an alien. Either way, it’s probably best to keep his background intentionally vague, as it makes him so fun to interact with.
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!
