Eric Baroni, creator of Stardew Valley, shared further development updates on his next game, Haunted Chocolatier. In a blog post, he thanked fans for their patience, apologized for the long process, and emphasized that he has no intention of sacrificing quality for speed. According to the developer, he already likes the feel of the gameplay and expects a warm reception from players.
Project Timeline:
- 2021. Announcement of Haunted Chocolatier, a game about chocolatiers and ghosts.
- Development paused. For a while, Baroni focused on supporting Stardew Valley.
- February of this year. Baroni officially abandoned the idea of a Stardew Valley sequel in favor of Haunted Chocolatier.
- April 2025. Full-time return to development of Haunted Chocolatier.
Baroni's stance reflects his approach to the game: he doesn't want to release a project until he's completely satisfied with the result. For an indie developer who has been single-handedly supporting his hit for years, this focus on quality is a logical decision, even if it does make fans wait longer.
If Haunted Chocolatier retains the heart of Stardew Valley and adds new mechanics and atmosphere, it could become one of the most distinctive indie releases of the coming years.
