Eric Barone reveals that he once considered developing Stardew Valley 2, expressing enthusiasm for creating new characters and an entirely fresh world.

Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, the mastermind behind Stardew Valley, once toyed with the idea of creating a sequel, but ultimately shifted his focus to Haunted Chocolatier. However, he hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of revisiting a Stardew Valley 2 in the future.

In a recent chat, Barone addressed whether he would consider developing a sequel instead of continuing to update the beloved 2016 farming sim. He previously noted that while a direct follow-up could happen someday, it’s much simpler to expand on the existing game rather than start from scratch, especially since financial gain isn’t his primary motivation.

In this latest discussion, Barone expressed a renewed interest in the concept. “Yeah, I would,” he said. “I would love to because it would be fun to create a whole new set of characters and a new world, maybe recapture some of that original spark I had back in 2012 when I began working on Stardew Valley. The possibilities in a new world are exciting for me and my team. However, I worry that fans are so attached to Pelican Town and its villagers that a new cast might not resonate well.”

To navigate this potential challenge, Barone suggested that a different approach for Stardew Valley 2 could involve using the existing characters in a fresh adventure. Yet, he acknowledged that this would still present its own set of challenges.

In a surprising revelation, Barone shared that Stardew Valley 2 was once in the works. “There was a time when I started developing a Stardew Valley 2, but for various reasons, I transitioned to Haunted Chocolatier instead,” he explained. “You could say Haunted Chocolatier is like a Stardew Valley 2, but it’s a different kind of game, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Details about Haunted Chocolatier have been sparse since its announcement in 2021, with Barone admitting he might have revealed it too early. Nevertheless, he reassured fans that he is fully committed to the project, stating, “I am not going to abandon Haunted Chocolatier.”

As for mod support on consoles, Barone mentioned that there are “numerous reasons” it hasn’t been implemented, but he remains open to the idea if it becomes feasible.