Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has shared an update on his upcoming chocolatier sim Haunted Chocolatier as we approach the fifth anniversary of its announcement: the game is still happening.
Now that Hollow Knight: Silksong and Mewgenics are out, the gaming community needs a new indie that's taking ages to launch to rally around. For me, that's Little Devil Inside (which was originally announced for the Wii U, to tell you how long that's been), but I imagine there's a whole lot of people who have been desperately waiting for the next game from Stardew Valley developer Barone instead. His upcoming Haunted Chocolatier was announced all the way back in 2021.
To his credit, Barone has been way more open about the development of Haunted Chocolatier than the Silksong devs were or Little Devil Inside devs are. He's well aware that Haunted Chocolatier is "taking a long time," but he's now shared a new update on the game's development through the Haunted Chocolatier website.
"I'm still here, still making progress," Barone says, thanking the fanbase for waiting patiently, and apologizing for how long development is taking. He adds, "I've been very productive on this project lately even though I am busy with many things. Working on Haunted Chocolatier is what I'm most eager and driven to do, out of everything."
However, despite his apologies about the development time, Barone isn't stressed about it, as, "That's just how it is" He explains, "I won't compromise on the quality of the game by rushing it or releasing it too early. Then all my time would be wasted, anyway." Barone also notes that the community is supportive, adding that "I do appreciate how understanding you guys are."
"My goal is to make a game that I am proud of and personally enjoy. And I am certain, at this point, that I will enjoy the game when it is finished," Barone says. "I already enjoy playing it in its unfinished state, especially after some recent additions i made… I hope others will like it too when it’s ready."
Given that Stardew Valley has become one of the most beloved games of all time, and it has been consistently been updated alongside the development of Haunted Chocolatier, I reckon we let Barone cook – because he's right, it'd be a waste to rush the process.
