Eric Barone can’t shake his addiction: updating Stardew Valley even when he says he’s quitting

Speaking to PC Gamer in April, Eric Barone stated, “I’m committed to not working on Stardew Valley until I’m done with Haunted Chocolatier.” But, like a smoker determined to quit, it seems the lone programmer cannot leave his magnum opus behind, promising an undated and uncommitted 1.7 update.

There are no details, no clues, beyond the fact that it will exist at some point. Of course, Stardew Valley fans celebrate the author’s well-known dedication to a work that he continues to update and expand for free (although not always to the delight of the masses, since we are no longer talking about a small independent PC game, but a multiplatform giant in which changes sometimes break things and add problems, particularly to the console versions).

“Haunted Chocolatier will never arrive”

Although the reaction to the announcement is festive, the truth is that there is some concern about how the developer, who works obsessively alone, will be able to cope with continuing to work on Stardew Valley while also making Haunted Chocolatier, which, in his words, is bigger and more ambitious than his debut work. Barone remains determined to work alone, which is particularly impressive given that his first game has a huge variety of possibilities, characters, content, and mechanics, something he wants to surpass with his next work.

In any case, everything fits neatly into a work philosophy where the freedom of a developer who is not committed to anything or anyone reigns supreme. Eric Barone wants nothing to do with shareholders, managing employees, or setting release dates that put pressure on him. He was already “free” when he made Stardew Valley (as free as you can be when you work 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week, even if it’s for yourself), and the game’s huge success, which has made him a millionaire, guarantees him enormous amounts of extra freedom. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!