The world of Haunted Chocolatier will be larger than Stardew Valley, according to its developer ConcernedApe. Here's the latest information on the game's development and an estimated release window.
Haunted Chocolatier's World Expands Beyond Stardew Valley
Development Insights and Release Plans from ConcernedApe
Haunted Chocolatier, the next project from Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, recently received an exciting update. In a June 11 Twitter (X) post, Barone confirmed that Haunted Chocolatier's game world will be larger than Stardew Valley.
While the exact scale difference remains unclear, Barone confirmed development is progressing steadily. During an April 2025 interview with PC Gamer at the Game Developers Conference, he discussed balancing both of his major projects.
Barone acknowledged that separating from Stardew Valley has proven challenging, impacting Haunted Chocolatier's development timeline. "I genuinely love Stardew Valley and care deeply about the community's experience. This constant attention to Stardew Valley's ongoing success naturally divides my focus from dedicating full time to Haunted Chocolatier," he explained.
Throughout 2024, Barone primarily focused on Stardew Valley's substantial 1.6 update. With the update now fully deployed across PC and consoles, he's ready to concentrate exclusively on Haunted Chocolatier's development.
Barone clarified, "The 1.6 update is now stable across all platforms. While we previously addressed console ports and bug fixes, the current version is solid. I'm committed to pausing Stardew Valley work until Haunted Chocolatier is complete. The game is in an excellent state, and I'm confident new players in 2025 will find it thoroughly enjoyable if they appreciate this genre."
Despite his full commitment to Haunted Chocolatier, Barone told Nintendo Life in January that he could envision working on Stardew Valley indefinitely. Future updates for Stardew Valley might arrive after Haunted Chocolatier's release, but currently, Barone is focused on completing his new chocolate-making adventure.
Target Release Within Five Years
Haunted Chocolatier initially appeared in October 2021 with a gameplay trailer and official website. After several years in development, Barone aims to launch the game within the next five years.
Appearing on comedian and Stardew Valley enthusiast Bobby Lee's Tiger Belly podcast on May 19, Barone responded to Lee's question about a five-year release timeline with a casual "I hope so," amusing the host.
Their conversation touched on how polished the game appears in trailers, though Barone compared this presentation to "Hollywood magic" that creates a deceptive impression of readiness.
This recent confirmation about the game's expanded scope gives fans more reasons to anticipate ConcernedApe's new creation. Haunted Chocolatier is currently in development for PC, with potential releases on additional platforms planned. For ongoing updates about the game's progress, explore our related coverage below.
