Stardew Valley developer Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, has provided a long-awaited update on his next game, Haunted Chocolatier. First released in 2016 — just over a decade ago — Stardew Valley has since taken the world by storm. It's still widely played and updated today, and has launched a thousand cozy game imitators.
Now, Barone is developing a follow-up to Stardew Valley: the much-anticipated Haunted Chocolatier. Although set in the same universe as Stardew Valley, it features different gameplay mechanics and a new central conceit, casting the player as a confectioner instead of a farmer.
We've seen precious little of Haunted Chocolatier at this point; it still doesn't have a release date, for example. However, Barone has now provided a few updates on the upcoming title's scope and gameplay in a new interview with GQ.
Of Haunted Chocolatier's physical size, Barone told GQ, "It is still what I call a 'town game.'" In other words, its action, like Stardew's, will likely center on a single town. We're likely to see some emphasis on forging relationships with townspeople, completing requests, and generally becoming a pillar of the community — although perhaps less so than in Stardew Valley.
Barone went...
