As the landmark tenth anniversary of Stardew Valley draws near, creator Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, suggests that the beloved farming simulation may have another decade of growth ahead. In a recent conversation, the developer shared fresh insights into the upcoming 1.7 update and discussed the long-term trajectory of the franchise—including the tantalizing possibility of a full-fledged sequel.
While concrete details regarding the 1.7 update have been sparse, Barone previously hinted at a new farm map and expanded social mechanics. He has now elaborated on those plans, confirming that the update will tackle a perennial fan request: making the in-game children more dynamic and interesting. Furthermore, he revealed that two additional marriage candidates will be introduced, with their identities set to be unveiled on February 26 to coincide with the game’s anniversary.
Barone also mentioned experimenting with a farm map editor and integrated social tools that would allow players to browse and admire each other’s agricultural designs. However, he remains uncertain if these specific features will be ready in time for the 1.7 release. “There’s a lot of other things in the update as well that no one’s really asked for,” Barone added, teasing a wealth of unannounced content.
Despite his continued dedication to the valley, Barone admitted to a creative tug-of-war. He is currently developing Haunted Chocolatier, which he describes as a spiritual successor to Stardew Valley, though he expressed concern that fans might expect a near-identical experience. “To be realistic, there’ve been many times where I thought, ‘All right, I think it’s going to be done after this update,’ and then that never happens,” he remarked.
Future expansions are unlikely to overhaul the game’s core mechanics; instead, Barone aims to enrich the existing world. He envisions adding variety to seasonal festivals with multi-year rotations and providing more profound dialogue to flesh out the resident NPCs. Quality-of-life adjustments are also on the table, such as potentially redesigning the polarizing “spiral” layouts in the mines, though he remains cautious about preserving the game’s original atmosphere. He even floated the idea of a “Stardew Classic” mode for those who prefer the game exactly as it was at launch.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Barone disclosed that he had briefly begun work on Stardew Valley 2 before pivoting his focus back to Haunted Chocolatier. However, a sequel is far from off the table. “I would love to because it would just be fun to work on a whole new set of characters and a new world,” he said, reflecting on his desire to recapture the experimental energy he felt when he began the original project in 2012.
Ultimately, the future of the series is driven by its massive player base. With over 50 million copies sold and daily sales remaining robust, Barone feels a profound responsibility to his audience. He views the game as his primary medium for connecting with others, noting that as long as the community remains engaged, he will likely find the inspiration to keep digging deeper into the valley.
Source: Polygon
