Haunted Chocolatier World Size to Rival Stardew Valley

The world of Haunted Chocolatier will be larger than that of Stardew Valley, confirmed by developer ConcernedApe. Discover the latest updates on the game’s development and the anticipated release window.

Haunted Chocolatier Set to Surpass Stardew Valley in World Size

Latest Insights on Game World and Release Timeline from ConcernedApe

Haunted Chocolatier, the highly anticipated follow-up from Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone, continues to generate excitement. On June 11, Barone confirmed via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the game’s world is bigger than Stardew Valley. While he hasn’t revealed exact details about the scale, this confirmation has sparked enthusiasm among fans.

Development is progressing steadily. During an interview with PC Gamer at the 2025 Game Developers Conference, Barone shared insights into balancing his work on both projects. He admitted that his emotional attachment to Stardew Valley has occasionally diverted his focus.

“I do love Stardew Valley, and I care deeply about the community. I want players to have the best experience possible, so I often find myself checking in on it. That naturally pulls time away from Haunted Chocolatier,” Barone explained.

Much of 2024 was dedicated to finalizing Stardew Valley’s major 1.6 update. With the patch now live across PC and consoles, and ongoing console ports and bug fixes wrapping up, Barone feels confident in the game’s current state.

“The 1.6 update is in a solid place. There are minor fixes here and there, but overall, it’s stable. I’m committed to shifting my full attention to Haunted Chocolatier and won’t return to Stardew Valley until the new game is complete. I’m proud of where it stands—I believe new players picking it up in 2025 will have a fantastic experience.”

Though fully immersed in Haunted Chocolatier, Barone previously mentioned in a January interview with Nintendo Life that he could continue supporting Stardew Valley indefinitely. However, his current priority is clear: finish Haunted Chocolatier first. Future updates to Stardew Valley remain possible, but only after the new project launches.

Targeting a Release Within the Next Five Years

Haunted Chocolatier was first revealed in October 2021, accompanied by a gameplay trailer and an official website. Since then, anticipation has grown. When asked during an episode of Bobby Lee’s Tiger Belly podcast on May 19 whether the game would release within the next five years, Barone responded with a hopeful, “I hope so”—a reply that drew mixed reactions from fans.

Despite the polished look of early trailers, Barone clarified that appearances can be deceiving. “It’s a bit like Hollywood magic—what you see in the footage is carefully curated. The game isn’t nearly as far along as it might seem.” This transparency helps set realistic expectations while maintaining excitement.

Currently in development for PC, Haunted Chocolatier is also expected to launch on additional platforms in the future. For the latest updates and official news, stay tuned to the game’s official channels and trusted coverage sources.