Haunted Chocolatier creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has shared a brief development update, reassuring fans that work on the game is ongoing and progressing steadily, even if the wait has been longer than many expected.
In a message, Barone said he has been “very productive lately” on Haunted Chocolatier and acknowledged that the project is taking a long time to complete. He also admitted that announcing the game early may not have been ideal, but explained that he had his reasons for doing so.
Barone used the update to address several recurring rumors and misconceptions surrounding the project. He firmly denied claims that Haunted Chocolatier has been abandoned or that its content will eventually be folded into Stardew Valley. According to Barone, the two games are completely separate projects, built on different technology, making it impractical to merge systems or content between them.
He also pushed back against the idea that Stardew Valley updates are being used as a testing ground for Haunted Chocolatier features. Barone stated that when he works on Stardew Valley, his focus is entirely on that game, and the same applies when he works on Haunted Chocolatier. He added that using Stardew Valley to trial ideas for another game would be unfair to its players and could also spoil concepts intended for Haunted Chocolatier.
Another rumor addressed was the notion that Barone has returned to Stardew Valley development because he is burned out on Haunted Chocolatier. He explained that Stardew Valley continues to receive updates because of its massive and still-growing player base, and because he still has ideas he wants to implement for the game.
Barone also clarified comments that some fans interpreted as suggesting Haunted Chocolatier would not release until 2030. He said he never gave such a timeframe. When asked in 2025 whether the game would be out within five years, he responded that he hoped it would be, which he emphasized is not the same as committing to a specific release window.
Once again, Barone declined to provide a release date, reiterating that Haunted Chocolatier will be released only when it is finished. He concluded by saying that the most important thing is continuing to make progress and eventually shipping the game.
The update ends with a short summary from Barone himself: he is alive, Haunted Chocolatier remains in active development, and the game will arrive when it is ready.
