Haunted Chocolatierhas a lot to live up to after the incredible success ofStardew Valley. Since the latter’s launch back in 2016,Stardew Valleycontinues to be a huge hit, andHaunted Chocolatierwill hopefully find just as much success when it’s finally ready for launch.
Despite being announced in 2021,Haunted Chocolatierhas only offered a handful of development updates since then. There is a very good reason for this, though. ConcernedApe is a solo developer, and with updates forStardew Valleytaking up a lot of his time, his hands have been full. ConcernedApe even confirmed thatdevelopment onHaunted Chocolatierhad stalledin order to make sureStardew Valley’s 1.6 update was as well-crafted as possible. Although this meansHaunted Chocolatiermay be a longer wait, an extensive time in development may ensure that it sidestepsStardew Valley’s staggered release.
Haunted Chocolatier Can Hopefully Avoid Stardew Valley’s Scattered Launch Strategy
Stardew Valley Release Dates
Haunted Chocolatierwould greatly benefit from avoiding this type of release.The long development cycle for ConceredApe’s next titlemay be frustrating for some at times, but the longer the game is allowed to stay in the oven, the more prepared it can be at launch. In a December 4 blog post from ConcernedApe on theHaunted Chocolatierwebsite, he stated that while he understands there may be sadness about such a long wait, he’s determined to make sure the game is in a satisfactory state before it’s ever released to the masses. He stated, “Even thoughHaunted Chocolatierhas only been revealed publicly to a tiny degree, in my own private world it’s a special place, and I’m very attached to the characters, themes, and ideas.”
Even more exciting, he mentioned, “Also, I’ve already done a ton of work on the game.” This is a promising sign, and if ConcernedApe allows himself the right amount of time, thenHaunted Chocolatiercould be ready for all platformson day one. IfHaunted Chocolatierwants to one-up its massive predecessor, having a full-blown multiplatform launch would be an incredibly strong start for the candy-fueled life sim.
Even thoughHaunted Chocolatierhas only been revealed publicly to a tiny degree, in my own private world it’s a special place, and I’m very attached to the characters, themes, and ideas.
Stardew Valley’s Updates Have Followed a Similar Path
This staggered launch strategy has been a common method forStardew Valley, and while this could still be the case for futureHaunted Chocolatierupdates, a launch still needs to focus on a cohesive release that spans across all platforms. Staggered updates are not ideal, but it’s less frustrating than having to wait for an entire game. The hugeexcitement surroundingHaunted Chocolatierruns the risk of upsetting some fans if they have to wait longer than PC or console players.
Haunted Chocolatier Aims to Continue the Legacy of Stardew Valley
For eight years,Stardew Valleyhas consistently been a hit. From longtime gamers to newcomers who had previously never played video games,Stardew Valleyhas resonated with a diverse group, and this has played a huge part in its success.Haunted Chocolatiermay be changing its sceneryto a friendly, ghost-infested chocolate-making castle, but it still appears to hold the same cozy spirit of the farm simulator that made its success possible.
As of December 2024,Stardew Valleyhas sold over 40 million copies.
There’s no tellingwhenHaunted Chocolatierwill be ready for players, but when the day comes, everyone, regardless of platform, will hopefully get to jump into ConcernedApe’s new world.Haunted Chocolatiermay have a lot to live up to, but ConcernedApe’s impressive track record bodes well for the title.
Haunted Chocolatier
WHERE TO PLAY
Haunted Chocolatier is an upcoming adventure game from Stardew Valley creator ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). The game is currently set to feature a lush explorable world, chocolate making and cooking, a spooky theme, and more. There is currently no release date or time period for the game.
