Haunted Chocolatier, the highly anticipated new title from *Stardew Valley* creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, is shaping up to be an even grander experience. In a recent update shared via Twitter (X) on June 11, 2025, Barone confirmed that the game’s world will be larger than that of *Stardew Valley*, setting high expectations for players eagerly awaiting its release.
Haunted Chocolatier Will Be Bigger Than Stardew Valley
Game World and Release Updates From ConcernedApe
While exact details about how much bigger the world of Haunted Chocolatier will be remain under wraps, Barone has assured fans that development is moving forward. During an interview with PC Gamer at the 2025 Game Developers Conference, he opened up about the challenges of balancing work between his two major projects.
“I do love *Stardew Valley* and I care about the fans and I want the fans to have a great experience. So I'm always concerned with *Stardew Valley* and making sure that it's doing well, and that pulls me away from devoting all my time to *Haunted Chocolatier*,” Barone admitted.
Much of 2024 was spent finalizing the massive 1.6 update for *Stardew Valley*, which launched successfully across PC and console platforms. Now that this patch has been fully deployed—with only minor updates and bug fixes remaining—Barone says he’s ready to shift his full attention to *Haunted Chocolatier*.
“The 1.6 update is pretty settled at this point. There were ongoing console ports and bug fixes, but it's pretty settled now. I'm committed to not working on *Stardew Valley* until I'm done with *Haunted Chocolatier*… I think it's in a good place. I feel very solid about it. I think if anyone picks up *Stardew Valley* for the first time in 2025, I'm very proud of it, and I think they'll have fun with it if they like this kind of game,” he added.
Although Barone remains emotionally attached to *Stardew Valley*, he is currently focused on completing *Haunted Chocolatier*. While he previously mentioned in a conversation with Nintendo Life that he could continue updating *Stardew Valley* for the rest of his life, any future updates will likely come after *Haunted Chocolatier* reaches completion.
ConcernedApe Hopes to Release It Within the Next Five Years
Since its initial announcement in October 2021—which included a gameplay trailer and official website launch—*Haunted Chocolatier* has captured the imaginations of fans worldwide. Despite the time that has passed, Barone expressed optimism about its future during a recent episode of comedian Bobby Lee’s *Tiger Belly* podcast on May 19, 2025.
When asked if the game would release within the next five years, Barone responded casually with “I hope so,” prompting some concern among eager fans. He further explained that while the trailers might make the game appear nearly complete, much of what’s shown is akin to “Hollywood magic” rather than finished content.
This latest update gives fans more to look forward to as development continues. Currently in development for PC, Barone has also expressed interest in bringing *Haunted Chocolatier* to additional platforms upon release.
Stay tuned for more updates on *Haunted Chocolatier* and be sure to follow our coverage for the latest news and insights into ConcernedApe’s next big project.
