ConcernedApe does not rule out future updates for Stardew Valley: ‘Maybe even in 50 years I can add something’
In a January 24 interview with NPR’s All Things Considered, Stardew Valley creator Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone discussed the legacy of his debut game nine years later, including his famous tendency to pause development of the upcoming Haunted Chocolatier to release patches and new content to bring for his 2016 game. farming RPG.
“I take in a lot of what the fans say,” Barone told All Things Considered. “I pay attention to what their thoughts are, what their criticism is. And the players are very important to me. I mean, I will never forget that it is thanks to the players that I am in this position, that the game was able to be popular to be that my dreams as a game developer have come true.”
Although he admits that the sentiment “might sound a little cheesy,” Barone characterizes his continued work on Stardew Valley as his way of paying back Stardew’s fans, both for essentially changing his life and for responding to his fictional world with so much real love.
“I think a game can have too much content,” Barone added. “And ultimately I want Stardew Valley to be the best game it can be. So if I feel like it’s starting to become so overwhelmed with content that it’s detrimental to the entertainment factor of the game, I’d stop at that point.
“Another thing is that I want to make more than one game in my life. Including the development time, I have been working on Stardew Valley for more than twelve years now.”
Barone still admitted that he might never be completely done with Stardew Valley. “I don’t want to say definitively that the book is ever closed, because I think I’ll always have the desire to come back and maybe add something. You know, maybe even in fifty years, I might can add .
“I love creating things. I don’t think I’ll ever retire. I think it would be funny to release an update when I’m ninety years old, if I live that long. Let’s hope .”
I certainly wouldn’t mind telling my partner about the latest Stardew Valley update while we’re both recovering in a retirement home. Hopefully by then I’ll have finally played it for myself and can share in the excitement. For more information on Eric Barone’s upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier, check out our guide to everything we know about the supernatural confectionery RPG.
