Stardew Valley Creator Offers Wholesome Haunted Chocolatier Update: ‘I Don’t Stress Too Much About How Long It’s Taking’

Published Aug 31, 2026, 10:35 AM EDT Even though the game is still unfinished, Barone claims to find it particularly fun to play after his latest additions Image: Eric Barone/ConcernedApe Sign in to your Polygon.com account It's been over two months since Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, updated fans on his upcoming project: Haunted Chocolatier. In a new blog post, published on Aug. 30, Barone provided a minor update on the development of the game, in which he shared his thoughts on its current state and recent additions. Haunted Chocolatier has been in production since 2020 but is still nowhere near ready for release. Fans have been eagerly awaiting Barone's upcoming game, and expectations are high, as Stardew Valley is considered a near-perfect indie masterpiece. Even though ConcernedApe has updated fans on a regular basis, information about Haunted Chocolatier is still relatively scarce. Before saying goodbye to the month of August, ConcernedApe decided to speak to his fans to give some insight into the developing state of Haunted Chocolatier. Similar to June's blog post, he underlines that it's taking him some time to finish this project because he is a perfectionist and refuses to rush it and risk compromising game quality. Thankfully, he notes that he doesn't "stress too much" about it. Furthermore, he appreciates how almost all of his fans are eager to get their hands on the game but remain patient with him. ConcernedApe makes mysterious, fun additions to Haunted Chocolatier Ultimately, ConcernedApe wants to make Haunted Chocolatier a game that he has fun playing. In its current state, he's already enjoying it, so he knows that he will feel the same once it's finished. He has been particularly entertained by playing it after recent additions. He did not reveal what these additions could be, but it certainly instills more curiosity among fans. "My goal is to make a game that i am proud of and personally enjoy. And I am certain, at this point, that I will enjoy the game when it is finished. In fact, I already enjoy playing it in its unfinished state, especially after some recent additions i made… I hope others will like it too when it’s ready." Barone finished the wholesome post by once again thanking those who've kept faith in him and wishing them, their family, and pets year-round prosperity. The relationship between ConcernedApe as a developer and the Stardew Valley community is one of a kind, which is why the comments section was riddled with uplifting comments, telling Barone that he should take as long as he needs. While this update is more or less what we've heard before, it's great that ConcernedApe continues to keep us informed about the production of Haunted Chocolatier. This reassures fans and reduces speculation about a possible launch date, as they know that the game is still a long way from release.