Alright, let’s dive into the wild world of Eric Barone and his epic journey with Stardew Valley. You know, it’s bananas thinking just one dude, known as ConcernedApe in the gaming realm, whipped up something that grabbed so many eyeballs. It’s been, what, nine years? Yet both the hardcore players and casual dabblers can’t stop obsessing over this chill farming escapade. But guess what? Eric’s kinda shifting gears now. Yeah, he’s eyeing a new horizon beyond the pixelated crops of Stardew.
I stumbled upon this bit in my morning rabbit-hole dive through the web—Barone yapping to PC Gamer about his new gig, Haunted Chocolatier. The dude’s poured all his focus into it, leaving Stardew Valley to marinate in its current glory. We got wind of this haunted choc fest back in 2021, but since then, Eric’s been pretty hush-hush. Still, his newfound obsession means Stardew’s updates are likely taking a backseat, at least for a while.
Oh, yeah, side note—Nintendo’s about to drop a new Switch, and folks are buzzing about how Stardew will fit into its multiplayer shebang. But I digress.
Okay, back to Barone. This guy once joked, I kid you not, with NPR about sticking with Stardew for 50 years. Fifty! As charming as those endless updates are, they’ve been a bit of a roadblock for Haunted Chocolatier’s progress. But maybe that’s a good thing? Stardew ain’t empty—it’s got this whole community of modders breathing new life into it constantly. There’s even a mod meshing it with, brace yourself, Baldur’s Gate 3. Wild, right?
And hey, here’s a tidbit from December 2024: Stardew clocked in a jaw-dropping 41 million copies sold. Insane, right?
But let’s not wander off—to wrap up this train wreck of thoughts, even if Barone puts the hoe and watering can aside for a hot minute, Stardew’s legacy is tough like an old boot. Sure, Eric’s eyeballing that spooky, chocolate-laden horizon, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he circles back with killer ideas for ol’ Stardew once Haunted Chocolatier’s on the shelf. Indie developers are like cats. They always land on their feet.
Anyway, Halloween-themed candy games or not, the Stardew saga is still alive and kicking, feeding the gaming crowds with stuff that’s equally comforting and surprising. Here’s to hoping Barone’s next venture has the same kind of irresistible pixelated magic. Who knows when Haunted Chocolatier will be ready (patience, my sweets), but when it does land, it’ll probably be filled with new twists and turns. And maybe surprises that none of us saw coming.
