The creator of Stardew Valley, who recently split with the game’s original publisher and took back those rights just yesterday, told players in an update yesterday that he is prioritizing ongoing development of his farming simulator, and putting another project on hold while he does so.
Eric Barone (also known as ConcernedApe) was speaking to community concerns over the fact he had been working on a new game prior to taking over Stardew Valley’s publishing, and had said that he wanted to devote all of his time to that project without creating new Stardew Valley content. Barone said that was no longer the case; while he had felt burnt out at times, “I keep getting new ideas for ways to improve and expand upon the game.
“There’s also such a wonderful community surrounding the game,” Barone added, “and I like making you guys happy.”
That means a new update (version 1.4) is coming to Stardew Valley and, beyond that, Barone will form a development team to help him work on more content. Stardew Valley has been a one-person show to this point. When that team is in place, Barone will then divide his time between Stardew Valley and his unannounced project.
“I still plan on having a very active role in the future of Stardew Valley,” he wrote, “and the originator of all major Stardew Valley decisions and content.” Music and writing will remain exclusively his province, Barone explained, but things like “programming, fixing bugs, administrative/business work, or even pixel art … I think I’d be okay with having some help.”
Barone took over publishing duties for Stardew Valley’s Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows PC and Xbox One versions from U.K.-based Chucklefish effective yesterday, Dec. 14. Chucklefish is still in charge of the Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS versions. The two had partnered on all versions going back to Stardew Valley’s original launch for PC in 2013.
Barone’s top priority for Stardew Valley meantime is to bring the version 1.3 multiplayer update to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 soon. The feature recently launched in the game on Nintendo Switch.
