The creator of Stardew Valley has acknowledged the long wait for his next project and explained why Haunted Chocolatier remains years away from completion. Eric Barone, known online as ConcernedApe, published a blog post reassuring fans that development continues, though he admits the repeated message feels repetitive.
"Feels kinda dumb posting this same thing over and over, but that's the reality," Barone wrote in a post titled "Still here, still grinding..." He then dove into the reason for the glacial pace: obsessive attention to every element of the game.
The recipe book for crafting chocolates became his case study in this philosophy. Barone described the feature as "not a simple task" because he "tortures" himself over every detail. The interface must work seamlessly with minimal clicks, present data without overwhelming the player, and arrange information in aesthetically pleasing groupings. Beyond mere functionality, Barone wants the recipe book to delight users, not just serve them.
"This is a UI you will be using fairly often, so it has to be perfect," he explained. He noted that achieving this typically requires multiple iterations before satisfaction hits. And that's just one component of what he describes as "a big game" with countless details demanding the same treatment.
Barone also clarified why footage and details about Haunted Chocolatier remain scarce. He compared the game to bread, saying he prefers to serve a fully baked loaf rather than half-baked one. He's also wary that early reveals could create expectations that the final product might not match, especially since mechanics and features will likely shift during development. His financial independence from publishers or crowd-funding means he faces no external deadline pressure, only self-imposed standards.
The approach reflects a broader change in how Barone manages his workload. He's expanded his team partly to free up time for Haunted Chocolatier while another group handles the upcoming Stardew Valley 1.7 update. Barone functions as creative director on the update, setting direction and later reviewing work, but no longer shoulders the entire burden himself.
"Part of the reason why I've expanded my team is so that hopefully I can spend more time working on Haunted Chocolatier," he said in a February interview. Still, the mental toll of context-switching remains real. Barone described himself as an all-in personality, finding it difficult to shift focus between projects even on a part-time basis.
He tempered expectations about release timelines in those same comments. "The progress isn't as fast as I would like. Nothing is ever as fast as I would like," he said. His only guarantee is that he won't release anything he doesn't consider great, even if development stretches for years. No funding pressures or pre-order commitments exist to force an earlier launch date.
Haunted Chocolatier remains undated. The next Stardew Valley update, 1.7, also has no release window. Barone's self-imposed standard for both projects suggests patience will define the wait.
Author Emily Chen: "Barone's commitment to polish over speed is admirable, but announcing a game in 2021 and still having nothing to show in finished form tests even devoted fans' patience."
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