Stardew Valley creator Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone has shared a new blog post reassuring fans that his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, remains in active development. Announced in 2021, the title has seen limited updates since, but Barone emphasized his commitment to completing it without rushing. He also addressed common misconceptions about the project.
Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone, the solo developer behind the massively successful Stardew Valley, provided a detailed update on his next project, Haunted Chocolatier, via a blog post on January 29, 2026. The game, first revealed in 2021, has generated significant anticipation among fans, especially given Barone's track record. In May 2024, he expressed a relaxed approach to its timeline, prioritizing quality over speed with the statement, "it's better to have a delayed game that's actually good than a bad game that's on time."
Barone noted that he has been "very productive lately," confirming that Haunted Chocolatier is progressing steadily despite taking longer than expected. "I know, I know, I shouldn’t have announced the game so early. But I had my reasons," he wrote, before tackling several myths circulating online. He firmly stated he has no intention of abandoning the project and clarified that unused content from Haunted Chocolatier will not be repurposed for Stardew Valley. "They are separate games," Barone explained, adding that the new title is built from scratch using a different engine, making integration technically impossible. He emphasized his focused workflow: "When I am working on Stardew Valley, I am not thinking about Haunted Chocolatier, and vice versa."
Furthermore, Barone debunked assumptions that he might test Haunted Chocolatier features in Stardew Valley updates, insisting the projects remain distinct. He also revealed plans for a new Stardew Valley update incorporating "additional ideas for how to improve it," offering fans more content in the interim. On the release front, Barone reiterated his stance against setting a firm date: "The bottom line is, I don’t want to give a release date. The game will come out when it's done."
This update aligns with Barone's previous comments from last year, where he committed to finishing Haunted Chocolatier before returning to Stardew Valley work. The game's world is described as larger than that of Stardew Valley, which has sold over 41 million copies worldwide as of December 2024, including 26 million on PC and 7.9 million on Nintendo Switch. Barone's reassurance aims to temper expectations while maintaining excitement for what promises to be another heartfelt indie title.
