If ConcernedApe Makes Stardew Valley 2, It May Be Different From the First

Stardew Valley has continued to be the blueprint for indie life sims since 2016. Developed by a single developer named Eric Barone (also known as ConcernedApe), Stardew Valley remains one of the most beloved indie hits of the 21st century. With nearly a decade of success under the game’s belt, many fans have been wondering what lies on the horizon next for Barone.

Thankfully, there’s a clear answer, as Barone announced his first follow-up to Stardew Valley back in 2021. His next project is titled Haunted Chocolatier, and it follows a candy maker who also happens to live in a haunted castle. It’s a unique premise, but what’s even more intriguing is that Barone recently stated that he may not be done with Stardew Valley, despite working on a fresh project.

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A Stardew Valley Sequel Could Look A Lot Different From the Game That Started it All

Eric Barone Continues to Evolve As a Developer

Right now, Barone is quite busy working on Haunted Chocolatier, and while small previews of the game promise the same charm and aesthetic as Stardew Valley, it’s already bound to be different in a variety of ways. Over the years, Barone has fine-tuned his dev skills, and that already signals big changes for Haunted Chocolatier. From mechanics to how smoothly it runs, Barone has nearly 10 years of experience behind him now to make sure that Haunted Chocolatier is able to sidestep any hiccups felt by the first game. So, if the difference between Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier is clearly felt at launch, then the difference between Stardew Valley and a sequel may be destined to be astronomical.

• Barone recently appeared on Bobby Lee’s TigerBelly podcast.

When discussing the future of Stardew Valley on TigerBelly, Barone stated, “I might eventually make a Stardew Valley 2, to be honest.” Of course, this isn’t necessarily a confirmation that a sequel will ever get made, but the fact that he’s already thinking about it is promising. So far, the wait for Haunted Chocolatier has been long, and there’s no telling when the game will be ready. With this in mind, if Haunted Chocolatier has the same pull as its predecessor, then Stardew Valley could be 20-years-old by the time a sequel sees the light of day.

Game development has evolved leaps and bounds between 2016 and today, so there’s no telling how far the industry will have changed in another decade. The legacy of Stardew Valley is impressive, and while one-upping the farm simulator is no easy task, Barone having both his first game and Haunted Chocolatier to learn from, combined with potential tech that hasn’t even come out yet, could make Stardew Valley 2 a truly monumental indie project.

Stardew Valley Remains an Influential Indie Title

Since the game’s 2016 launch, Stardew Valley has inspired a variety of developers to make their own projects. Stardew Valley helped kickstart an indie renaissance that completely reshaped the life sim genre, and it’s a testament to the game’s success. Stardew Valley 2 may have a hard time reaching the bar set by the original game, but it’s thrilling to imagine just how much the passage of time could benefit a sequel.

Only time will tell if Barone ever gets around to making a Stardew Valley successor. He even recently claimed that he could work on Stardew Valley for 50 years, and with the nine years’ worth of updates and new content, that’s definitely easy to believe. Stardew Valley 2 may be years down the line, but ultimately, that could be a great thing.

Stardew Valley

Released

February 26, 2016

ESRB

E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

Publisher(s)

ConcernedApe

Engine

Proprietary