Stardew Valley is the story of a developer and a dazzling success. "ConcernedApe," as he was nicknamed, had no idea he would create a benchmark of its kind that would unite millions of players. Eight years later, the game continues to attract crowds, and its designer has continued to pamper it with endless updates. But there's more to life than Stardew Valley. Eric Barone has certainly said he sees himself continuing development "forever," but he especially aspires to finish his other baby: Haunted Chocolatier. A title that has been announced for many years now, and too often put aside in favor of farming-sim, but that may change very soon.
Serious things are starting for the post-Stardew Valley
All good things must come to an end, even SW? The farming-sim game recently received one of its most significant updates to date. Version 1.6 didn't arrive without a few issues, which the developer has worked hard to fix on all platforms. Now, players of all backgrounds can enjoy it in optimal conditions, but what about the future of Stardew Valley and especially the creator's next game? Interviewed by our colleagues at PC Gamer, Eric Barone said he was finally ready to fully invest in Haunted Chocolatier, now that the majority of the issues from version 1.6 have been fixed and the console ports are stable.
"Everything is fixed now, so I've committed to not working on Stardew Valley again until I've finished Haunted Chocolatier," he promised. Does this signal the end of the follow-up to the already iconic farm-sim? Not quite. He explains that he believes he'll never be finished with Stardew Valley. "Maybe when I die, then we can say the chapter is over," he jokes. On the other hand, he seems determined not to work on an update again anytime soon and to stick to his goal, where he always ended up redoing content for his first game, to the detriment of the second. Good news for those who want a fresher experience, though.
Will Haunted Chocolatier be coming soon?
Because of the efforts put into the latest Stardew Valley updates, Haunted Chocolatier is still in an early stage of development, even though the game was announced in 2021.
"I'm immersed in it, and it's still going to take some time. I'm trying not to rush too much, to do it in a relaxed and stress-free way. The problem is that I always had to worry about Stardew Valley, making sure the players had a good experience. So I've always focused on that, but it prevented me from dedicating all my time to Haunted Chocolatier."
As a reminder, the game will also be a mix of RPG and simulation, with a slightly more mystical vibe. This time, players will have to manage a haunted chocolate factory by taking into account three key elements: managing the shop, acquiring the ingredients to make these sweets, and the life simulation part by interacting with the NPCs. Barone has promised, in any case, that action and fantasy elements will be more prominent than in Stardew Valley.
Source: PCGamer
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