By I’m aware there are numerous diligent Stardew Valley cultivators – their joints sore, their legs wobbling – who are tired of waiting for creator Eric Barone’s imminent adventure game Haunted Chocolatier, first revealed four years ago. I regret to bring this up, but you ought to be informed that there’s another title you should start looking forward to: Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, hints that he might one day produce a sequel to Stardew Valley.
“I might eventually create a Stardew Valley 2, truthfully,” Barone mentions during a recent segment of comedian Bobby Lee’s podcast Tiger Belly.
However, it appears that transforming that casual podcast notion into a concrete Steam acquisition would be complicated.
“It’s simply far easier to add more elements to Stardew Valley than to create an entirely new game from the ground up,” Barone further explains. “The primary systems are all finished. That’s the tedious part. When I’m crafting an update, it’s like, you know – ‘oh, let’s add this, add that. How about introducing green rain?'”
But what of the lucrative potential a Stardew Valley 2 could bring? A sequel to one of the most beloved farming simulations ever would not merely create a stream of revenue – it would be a deluge, correct?
“I simply don’t mind,” Barone responds when Lee questions why he refrains from charging for Stardew updates. “I just don’t value money that much, honestly.”
Barone emphasizes that, while he won’t dismiss the notion of a Stardew sequel, “I don’t want to solely be seen as the Stardew Valley guy. That’s why I’m developing Haunted Chocolatier.” This circles back to my initial statement…