Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, has said he has no plans to abandon Haunted Chocolatier, confirming that development on the game remains ongoing.
In a January 28 blog post shared on the official Haunted Chocolatier website, ConcernedApe opened with a direct update on the project’s status.
“Hey everyone, good news: I’ve been very productive lately on Haunted Chocolatier. Yep, it’s taking a while to finish the game. That’s okay. I know, I know, I shouldn’t have announced the game so early. But I had my reasons,” he wrote.
The blog then continued to address assumptions he had seen circulating about the upcoming simulation game, aiming to “debunk a few myths” about its status.
ConcernedApe responds to Haunted Chocolatier rumors
Starting with claims that Haunted Chocolatier would be abandoned and its content folded into Stardew Valley instead, the developer said, “No. First, I am not going to abandon Haunted Chocolatier.”
Barone added that even in a hypothetical scenario where development ceased, the game would not be merged into Stardew Valley.
He explained that the two projects are entirely separate from a technical standpoint, noting that Haunted Chocolatier was built from scratch and does not use the same engine as Stardew Valley. “You can’t just copy and paste Haunted Chocolatier into Stardew Valley,” he said.
He also pushed back against the idea that ongoing Stardew Valley updates are being used to test ideas for Haunted Chocolatier. According to Barone, continued work on Stardew Valley is simply a response to its popularity and growing player base.
Another rumor Barone addressed was the suggestion that Haunted Chocolatier would not release until 2030. He said this stemmed from a misunderstanding of comments he made in 2025, when he was asked whether the game would be out within five years.
“I said ‘I hope so,’” he explained, adding that this was not the same as giving a release year. Barone reiterated that he does not want to announce a release date and that the game will be finished when it is ready.
“TLDR: I’m alive, the game is still in development, and it will come out when it’s ready. Thank you for your patience,” he concluded.
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