Stardew Valley creator and developer Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, has announced that he is working on Haunted Chocolatier, another ambitious solo project. The game will involve the player character running the titular chocolatier with the help of several friendly ghosts inhabiting the building. Currently, very little is known about the game - Barone has shared a handful of screenshots and revealed a few tidbits, but is generally keeping quiet about the project as he continues to develop it. This secrecy regarding Haunted Chocolatier is good for the game, keeping expectations high, fan theories potentially connecting it to Stardew Valley abundant, and key questions unanswered.
Such minimal communication may not work for all games and developers, but, in ConcernedApe's case, it emphasizes his continued commitment to the project and impressive work ethic. Similar to Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier is a solo project for Barone, and he has been up-front about the difficulty of the project and the amount of work remaining. While fans are certainly excited about the game, Barone has been careful not to promise too much, admitting that the game is still early in development and is likely several months to several years away from release. However, the few teases he has provided have been more than enough to whet fans' appetite for the game's release, no matter how far away it may be.
Speculation About The Game's Connection to Stardew is Huge
Inevitably, as soon as Haunted Chocolatier was announced, fans began to speculate. Potential players asked if the game would be connected to Stardew Valley in any way and pondered how similar or different it might be, both mechanically and story-wise. So far, ConcernedApe has answered only a few of these questions. He has confirmed that a few features from Stardew will return, such as the ability to bond and form friendships - and perhaps even romantic relationships with various NPCs. Barone has also shown that the combat system will be more in-depth than that of Stardew Valley, featuring boss battles and larger areas containing monsters compared to Stardew's relatively contained Mines and Skull Cavern dungeons.
One key area in which fans have continued to speculate is whether Haunted Chocolatier will share lore with Stardew Valley and whether it will be set in the same universe as the cozy farming simulator. Stardew Valley had a number of supernatural elements, ranging from the Wizard who lived in the Valley to the adorable Junimo spirits who helped the player restore the Community Center. This has led fans to theorize that Haunted Chocolatier takes place in the same world as Stardew, perhaps across the Gem Sea from the titular valley. Elements from Stardew that could return include the mysterious "shadow people" who live in dark locations like sewers or the powerful JojaCorp, which could serve as a rival to the player's humble chocolatier.
Could Haunted Chocolatier Be Headed for a Surprise Release?
One piece of information fans have been hoping to hear from ConcernedApe is an official release date for Haunted Chocolatier. However, the developer has remained quiet on that front, only stating that there is a lot more work to be done. However, this refusal to share an official release date could be a good thing in this case - as it could mean the game is planned for a surprise release earlier than fans would expect. Previously, ConcernedApe surprised fans by spontaneously releasing Version 1.5 of Stardew Valley, which added major content updates including the brand-new Ginger Island area and multiple new crops, items, and monsters. It is definitely possible that a similar unexpected release could be in the works for Haunted Chocolatier.
While fans wait for more news about Haunted Chocolatier, Eric Barone has been much more upfront about the future of Stardew Valley. He does not plan on releasing any more major content updates, but has not ruled out the idea of returning to Stardew in the future. Currently, ConcernedApe is working on releasing the 1.5 content update for mobile Stardew Valley players while also continuing to develop Haunted Chocolatier.
Haunted Chocolatier will release at a currently unspecified date for PC and possibly consoles.