Developer ConcernedApe has confirmed that Haunted Chocolatier will feature a larger world than Stardew Valley. Keep reading for the latest updates on the game and its expected release window.
Haunted Chocolatier Set to Surpass Stardew Valley in Scale
Latest News on Game World and Release Plans from ConcernedApe
Haunted Chocolatier is the next project from Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, who recently shared intriguing details about the game. In a June 11 Twitter (X) post, he revealed that Haunted Chocolatier's world will be more expansive than Stardew Valley's.
While Barone hasn't yet elaborated on the exact scale difference, it's clear that development is progressing steadily. During the 2025 Game Developers Conference, he spoke with PC Gamer about balancing both of his major projects.
Barone acknowledged that stepping away from Stardew Valley has been challenging, which has impacted Haunted Chocolatier's development timeline. "I have a deep affection for Stardew Valley and its community," he explained. "Ensuring players continue to have an excellent experience means I can't dedicate all my time to Haunted Chocolatier."
Much of 2024 was devoted to Stardew Valley's substantial 1.6 update. With the patch now live on PC and consoles, Barone is ready to focus entirely on completing Haunted Chocolatier.
"The 1.6 update is essentially complete," Barone stated. "While we had ongoing console ports and bug fixes, those are now resolved. I'm committed to not working on Stardew Valley until Haunted Chocolatier is finished. The game is in excellent shape, and I'm confident new players discovering it in 2025 will have a wonderful experience."
Despite his full commitment to Haunted Chocolatier, Barone told Nintendo Life in January that he could continue working on Stardew Valley indefinitely. Future updates for Stardew Valley remain possible after Haunted Chocolatier's release, but for now, Barone is concentrating on completing his new chocolate-making simulation.
Target Release Window Within Five Years
Haunted Chocolatier was first announced in October 2021 with a gameplay trailer and official website. Several years later, Barone hopes to launch the game within the next five years.
During a May 19 episode of comedian Bobby Lee's Tiger Belly podcast, Lee asked whether the game would arrive within five years. Barone's casual response of "I hope so" elicited a dramatic reaction from the longtime Stardew Valley fan.
Their conversation touched on how polished the game appears in trailers, but Barone compared this to "Hollywood magic" that creates the illusion of readiness.
His recent social media update gives fans renewed excitement for ConcernedApe's latest venture. Haunted Chocolatier is currently in development for PC, with plans to expand to other platforms. For ongoing coverage about the game, explore our related articles below.
