There’s no telling whenHaunted Chocolatierwill be ready, but the spiritual successor toStardew Valleyhas been highly anticipated ever since it was announced back in 2021.Haunted Chocolatierhas still yet to be released, but solo developer Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, has recently shared some promising news on the game’s development.
Talking to PC Gamer, Barone confirmed that he had switched his focus fully toHaunted Chocolatier. Continuing to updateStardew Valleyhad beenkeeping Barone from making significant progress onHaunted Chocolatier, but that now seems to be changing. It’s unclear exactly how much work has been completed on the candy-centric successor, but withStardew Valley’s ten-year anniversary happening next year,Haunted Chocolatiercould have the ideal release date in its sights.
Haunted Chocolatier Has a Perfect Opportunity to Honor Its Predecessor
Of course, it’s important to note that Barone has stated thatproduction onHaunted Chocolatiermay still take a while. During the PC Gamer interview, Barone stated:
“I’m still tweaking the vertical slice. There is still vertical slice work to be done. At the same time, I have been working on content. So it’s a little bit of both. I’m still totally knee-deep into development. It’s going to be awhile. I’m trying not to rush myself too much. I’m trying to stay relaxed and stress-free.”
Game development is challenging enough with the help of a team, let alone on one’s own, so it’s completely understandable why Barone has taken so long to craftHaunted Chocolatier. Barone further claimed to PC Gamer that he would “have to completely cut off everything else.”
It’s unclear ifHaunted Chocolatierwill be released for the Switch 2, and a port forStardew Valleyhas yet to be confirmed.
A February 2026 Launch May Be a Pipe Dream, But It’s Not Impossible
Based on Barone’s comments, it does seem like there’s a lot more work to be done than just a few months, but there is always room for surprises.Stardew Valleyfans have been waiting forHaunted Chocolatierfor a long time now, and there’s still a small chance that Barone has completed more of the game than he lets on. This is likely wishful thinking, but it would also be a fun way to subvert fan expectations.
As of December 2024,Stardew Valleyhad sold over 41 million copies.
I’m still totally knee-deep into development. It’s going to be awhile. I’m trying not to rush myself too much. I’m trying to stay relaxed and stress-free.
If Haunted Chocolatier Isn’t Ready, February 2026 Could Still Have Exciting Things in Store
It’s unlikely that the 10th anniversary ofStardew Valleywill just come and go without any kind of celebration. Whether it be something planned by Barone himself orthe passionateStardew Valleycommunity, there are bound to be fun tributes on the horizon.
Over the years,Stardew Valleyhas helped grow a tight-knit community of gamers who love to celebrate the game in a variety of ways. From fan art to making their own unique mods,Stardew Valleyplayershave helped build the game’s legacy. So, whileHaunted Chocolatierprobably may or may not be ready in time for Jun 01, 2025, it will be a huge milestone forStardew Valleynonetheless.
