Stardew Valleyhas proven to be one of the biggest indie successes that the industry has ever seen. Nine years later, hardcore gamers and casual fans continue to flock to the cozy farm simulator. Even more impressive is the fact that it was developed by a lone person. Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, has continued to work on the game since launch, but now it appears as though his sights are set on a future that lies beyondStardew Valley.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Barone confirmed that he has fully shifted his attention to his next project,Haunted Chocolatier. As his first game afterStardew Valley,Haunted Chocolatierwas originally announced back in 2021. Since that announcement, not much has been shared about the game, butBarone’s new focus onHaunted Chocolatiermeans thatStardew Valleywill remain in its current state for the foreseeable future.
Eric Barone May Be Leaving Stardew Valley Behind, But it Likely Won’t Be for Good
Barone’s Dedication to Stardew Valley Has Kept Haunted Chocolatier’s Progress Slow
Not too long ago, Barone joked with NPR that he could see himselfworking onStardew Valleyfor 50 more years.Stardew Valleyis the type of game that is perfect for continuous updates and content, and it’s kept Barone quite busy. Unfortunately, it has also kept him fromHaunted Chocolatier. His shift in focus is for the best, even if it means thatStardew Valleywill have to stay as it is for a few years.
Thankfully, even just the base game alone is filled with content. Beyond that, there is a passionate and massive modding community that has brought a cornucopia of extra add-ons and upgrades that players can revel in. There has even been aBaldur’s Gate 3modadded to the mix, bringing a fun fantasy-inspired crossover to life.
Back in December 2024,Stardew Valleyreached the impressive milestone of 41 million copies sold.
His shift in focus is for the best, even if it means thatStardew Valleywill have to stay as it is for a few years.
Once Haunted Chocolatier is Complete, Stardew Valley Still Has Room to Grow
Barone told PC Gamer that he’s dedicated to focusing onHaunted Chocolatier, but there’s no guarantee that he can stay away fromStardew Valley. Despite ambitions to finishHaunted Chocolatier,Stardew Valleycontinues to pull him back in. However, it’s possible that he fully hunkers down on the follow-up’s development. WhenHaunted Chocolatieris done, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Barone return with a long list of ideas for new content.
Only time will tell how much longer the road ahead is forHaunted Chocolatier. Barone confirmed that it will still be a bit of a wait until the candy-centric game is ready, but the promise of another indie offering from the solo developer is exciting.Haunted Chocolatieris bound to differ fromStardew Valleyin a variety of ways, and it will be intriguing to see what new concepts Barone has up his sleeve.
Last year,Stardew Valleyreceived its 1.6 update, which brought a huge amount of extra content to players. Some of the changes included are new festivals and events, new NPC dialogue, a long list of new items, and plenty of environmental upgrades.
Stardew Valley’s Legacy is Enough to Keep it Going
Even with Barone stepping away, the strong community that the game has built keepsStardew Valleyalive and well. Since it’s such a success, it’s completely understandable why Barone keeps coming back to the farm simulator, but while he’s away,Stardew Valleyis bound to keep entertaining its playersin new and exciting ways.
