Eric Barone Discusses Haunted Chocolatier Development And Expectations

Eric Barone is taking his time with the development of his next project, Haunted Chocolatier. Following the immense success of Stardew Valley, which has become a cornerstone of the cozy gaming and farming simulator genres, expectations for his new game are high.

Fans are eager to know when they can get their hands on the new title, but Barone has consistently maintained that the game will be released when he believes it is ready, not according to any external schedule.

According to IGN’s interview, this approach ensures the final product meets his personal standard of quality. The anticipation surrounding a new setting from the acclaimed developer keeps the community engaged, even without a firm release date on the horizon. Progress is being made on the game, though perhaps not as quickly as Barone himself would prefer. He recently shared his perspective on the development timeline and his commitment to quality over speed.

I'm not going to release anything that I'm not happy with. If I don't think it's a great game, I'm not going to release it. So even if that takes years and years, so be it. That's just what I want to do.

— Eric Barone

This deliberate pace is made possible by the absence of external financial pressures. Barone has not sought funding from outside sources or through crowdfunding campaigns. There are no plans for pre-orders, which removes any obligation to meet a predetermined launch window. This independence allows him to focus entirely on the creative process without the weight of investor expectations or a demanding publisher's timeline. He feels no contractual duty to deliver the game by a certain date, which grants him the freedom to work at a pace that serves the project best. While he acknowledges a self-imposed pressure not to disappoint fans with a prolonged development cycle, he views this as a mental construct rather than a physical obligation. The core of his work remains centered on his own vision and timeline for when the game will be complete and polished to his satisfaction.

I don't actually owe anyone the game. It's like when I want to do it and when I want to release it, it'll get done.

— Eric Barone

The success of Stardew Valley has created a unique form of pressure. Barone admitted that navigating the expectations set by his previous work has been a significant struggle. His goal is to create a game that he is personally proud of, without being overly influenced by the public's anticipation. He finds it nearly impossible, however, not to consider how the game will be received by the audience that grew to love his first major title. This creates an internal conflict between making the game he wants to make and ensuring it meets the expectations of a dedicated fanbase. He understands that delivering something that deviates too far from what players are hoping for could lead to disappointment, a scenario he would prefer to avoid. This balancing act between his artistic integrity and the desires of his audience is a constant consideration throughout the development of the game.

I want to just make the game I want to make, but I also don't want a bunch of people to not like the game because they were expecting a certain thing. That's not going to feel good. I know that.

— Eric Barone

Despite the challenges, Barone continues his work on the new title while also supporting Stardew Valley with substantial updates. There is still no clear indication of when Haunted Chocolatier will be finished, but the development continues at a steady, if unhurried, pace.

Read also, a recent wave of discussion around a familiar Stardew Valley event shows how a minor festival can still unsettle long-running goodwill. The Flower Dance has always been an early milestone, yet it has also been a point of friction among players who feel the moment stumbles in ways that stand out against the game’s otherwise thoughtful design. Those conversations resurfaced this week, even as creator ConcernedApe confirmed that another major update is officially in the works. The contrast between old frustrations and the promise of new content has revived a debate that lingers despite nearly a decade of steady improvement.