ConcernedApe Assures Stardew Valley Update 1.7 Won't Greatly Delay Haunted Chocolatier

ConcernedApe Assures Stardew Valley Update 1.7 Won't Greatly Delay Haunted Chocolatier

Fans of Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, the beloved creator behind the smash-hit farming simulator Stardew Valley, have been buzzing with anticipation and a touch of concern since he recently announced a new 1.7 update for Stardew Valley. The immediate question on many players' minds was how this new commitment might impact the development of his highly anticipated next game, Haunted Chocolatier.

ConcernedApe was quick to address these worries, assuring the community that any pause in Haunted Chocolatier's development would be minimal. He clarified his approach to juggling both projects, highlighting a crucial difference in their development structures.

While Barone continues to work on Haunted Chocolatier largely by himself, he has built a dedicated team around Stardew Valley's ongoing development since version 1.3. This strategic move allows him to allocate most of his creative energy and attention to his new game. For Stardew Valley's updates, he takes on the role of a creative director, overseeing his team's work rather than doing all the heavy lifting solo, as he did for earlier updates.

“I have a team helping me with Stardew Valley updates since 1.3,” Barone explained. “Unlike previous updates (which I made alone), for update 1.7 I'm trying to take more of a creative director role, so I can focus most of my attention on Haunted Chocolatier. So far, it's going well… we’re working at a calm pace, we have tons of ideas, and everything is being done at a high level.”

However, he acknowledged that he still needs to be hands-on with some aspects. “Eventually, I will have to devote a bit more time to Stardew Valley, because to maintain full connection with the game, I need to personally touch every element of new content. Some aspects of development (for example, creating music) I prefer to do myself.”

There's no specific release date for Stardew Valley 1.7, and Barone even mused about the possibility of it launching after Haunted Chocolatier, though he offered no guarantees. Despite the commitments, his passion for Stardew Valley remains strong.

“In any case, Haunted Chocolatier will come out someday,” he stated. “And of course, the reality is that I have a very popular first game that I still want to take care of, and that means the second game might come out a little later. It is what it is. I wasn't obligated to start production on Stardew Valley 1.7, but the game is still so popular (and its popularity continues to grow) that it's hard for me to just stop improving it (especially when there's something to improve).”

Barone hopes this refined approach for Stardew Valley 1.7 will help Haunted Chocolatier stay on track. While a release date for Haunted Chocolatier remains elusive, Barone has always stressed his commitment to taking as much time as needed to ensure the game meets his high standards. Fans can rest assured that both beloved titles are in good hands, with ConcernedApe carefully balancing his passion for both his past success and his exciting new venture.