Haunted Chocolatier Matches Stardew Valley's Scale

Developer ConcernedApe confirms Haunted Chocolatier's game world will surpass Stardew Valley in size. Learn about upcoming developments and the anticipated release window.

Haunted Chocolatier Expands Beyond Stardew Valley's Scope

Latest Development Insights From ConcernedApe

Haunted Chocolatier, the new project from Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, will feature a significantly larger game world than its predecessor. Barone confirmed this expansion during a June 11 Twitter (X) post, though specific dimensions remain undisclosed.

The developer revealed during April 2025's Game Developers Conference that maintaining Stardew Valley has impacted his new project's timeline. "My dedication to Stardew's community and continuing updates has divided my attention," Barone told PC Gamer.

Following extensive work on Stardew Valley's 1.6 update throughout 2024, Barone now shifts full focus to Haunted Chocolatier. "With the console ports and patches stabilized, I'm committing all development resources to finishing Haunted Chocolatier," he explained.

Barone maintains long-term enthusiasm for Stardew Valley despite prioritizing his new project. While suggesting future Stardew updates might follow Haunted Chocolatier's completion, he emphasized his current commitment to finalizing the chocolate-themed simulation.

Projected Release Within Five Years

Originally announced in October 2021 with gameplay footage, Haunted Chocolatier targets release within the next five years. During Bobby Lee's May 19 Tiger Belly podcast, Barone responded "I hope so" when questioned about this timeframe.

The developer clarified that released trailers represent conceptual footage rather than completed content. While initially developed for PC, Barone intends to expand Haunted Chocolatier to additional platforms post-launch.