The public was waiting for concrete information about Haunted Chocolatier, the new project of Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, creator of Stardew Valley, after a period without news on social networks and blogs.Faced with the concern of the players and the rumors of a possible cancellation, Barone personally communicated that the development of the game is moving forward, although without committing to a release date.
Since it was announced in 2021, Haunted Chocolatier has remained a mystery, giving rise to speculation, especially due to the long periods without significant news.In his last statement, Barone was clear: “I have not abandoned Haunted Chocolatier.”He stated that rumors about abandonment are unfounded and are due to how time is usually measured in the industry, although each developer has their own pace and work method.
One of the most widespread myths speculated with the possibility that HauntedChocolatier was canceled and that part of its content was integrated into StardewValley.Barone completely ruled out that option, both for technical and artistic reasons.He explained that both games use different engines and different architectures, which makes it impossible to transfer elements from one to the other through a simplified process.
Barone’s decision regarding deadlines is based on his philosophy of prioritizing quality over speed.Although he acknowledged that Haunted Chocolatier’s announcement may have been premature, he explained that he had personal reasons for making it public at the time.
Barone noted that one of the main differences from his previous project is the much larger dimension of the world in Haunted Chocolatier, which will be noticeably larger than that of Stardew Valley.In addition, the new game will have more combat-oriented gameplay, which differentiates it both on a mechanical and narrative level from the agricultural proposal of its predecessor.These changes represent a technical and creative challenge that partly explains the duration of development.
During the last few months, Barone stated that he has been very productive and that the progress of the game is constant.However, he stressed that he will not set an estimated launch date to avoid excessive pressure and expectations on the part of the players.The game “will come out when it is finished,” he insisted.
Confirmation that Haunted Chocolatier remains in development has reassured players and renewed expectations for the game.Barone’s transparency in the face of rumors was received positively, especially by those who value honesty over the secrecy that usually characterizes large studios.
Without a confirmed release date, the community remains attentive to the development of the game through forums, social networks and blogs, relying on Barone’s track record thanks to the success of Stardew Valley.Although not many images or significant details have yet been revealed about Haunted Chocolatier, fans accept the developer’s leisurely pace, confident that the final quality will justify the wait.
Barone maintains that his two projects, although developed in parallel, do not compete with each other but rather allow him to experiment with different mechanics and narratives.Stardew Valley continues to be a reference for simulation and management games, while Haunted Chocolatier, with its proposal that combines chocolate and fantasy elements, aims to offer a different and potentially innovative experience.
