Eric Barone tweeted a screenshot last month and my Twitter feed exploded. Three million views in a day. People were going absolutely nuts.
The Stardew Valley creator reveals new screenshot situation is wild because Barone, who goes by ConcernedApe online, barely shares anything about Haunted Chocolatier, his next game. When he does? It’s like Christmas morning for farming sim fans.
What the Screenshot Actually Shows
Posted August 26th, 2025. One image. No context.
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) August 26, 2025
The screenshot shows this massive treehouse in a forest. I mean massive, as the tree trunks break through multiple floors. There are warm fall colors everywhere, toadstools scattered around, and your character standing by what looks like a river.
The picture shows the main character exploring a forest, where we can see, among other things, a tree converted into a house. The detail level is insane compared to Stardew Valley. Same pixel art style, but way more refined.
My friend who’s dumped like 500 hours into Stardew sent me the screenshot with just “OMG OMG OMG”. No other words needed.
Then Came the Fishing Bomb
Someone in the replies asked about fishing. Simple question: “Can we get a status report on a fishing mechanic?”
Barone’s reply? “There is fishing.”
That’s it. Three words. The revelation came after a fan, perhaps noticing water in the above screenshot, asked for a “status report on a fishing mechanic”. To which Barone replied, “There is fishing.”
The thing is, Stardew Valley’s fishing mini-game is infamously hard. People either adore it or abhor it. There are dozens of Reddit threads of people saying it’s way too hard, particularly at lower levels.
In a recent interview, Barone said that he regrets how it “starts out too hard” so perhaps Haunted Chocolatier will have an easier one?
Some of the responses to that tweet were too funny. Half the people were, like, “YESSSS,” and half the people were like, “Oh no, not again.”
Haunted Chocolatier Release Date Remains a Mystery
Barone announced Haunted Chocolatier back in October 2021. That was four years ago now. Still no release date.
That game is about running a chocolate shop in a haunted castle. You live in this snowy town, you collect ingredients, you make chocolate, and there are ghosts that come into play. It has more combat than Stardew, darker vibes, but the same cozy simulation vibes.
Fans eager for Barone’s next game (Haunted Chocolatier) are wondering. Everyone wants to know when it is coming out.
Barone told X in June 2025, “The world of Haunted Chocolatier is actually bigger than the world of Stardew Valley.” That’s hopeful, but also more development time.
Barone’s been working solo on this game for years. Just like he did with Stardew Valley – one guy doing everything. Programming, art, music, design, writing. To complete the game, Barone worked 10 hours a day, seven days a week for four and a half years on Stardew. He’s probably doing something similar now.
Why People Care So Much
Stardew Valley sold over 41 million copies. Let that sink in. As of December 2024, it has sold over 41 million copies.
I bought it on PC in 2016. Then bought it again on Switch. Then on mobile. Pretty sure I’m not alone in owning it three times.
The game’s just… comforting? You plant crops, make friends, fish (if you’re brave enough), and go mining. There’s no time pressure, no real way to fail. Just you and your farm and occasionally fighting slimes in caves.
Stardew Valley update news still gets people hyped even though the game’s almost nine years old. Barone and a small team of developers updated the game in November, making hundreds of changes and adding free new content.
He announced there’s going to be a Stardew Valley new update 2025 – version 1.7 – which some fans worry will delay Haunted Chocolatier even more. But Barone said it won’t slow things down as much as people think.
Haunted Chocolatier New Screenshots Are Rare Gems
This August screenshot was only the latest in a series of very occasional peeks at the game. Barone shared a few screenshots back in October 2023 when he hit one million Twitter followers. Before that? August 2022 with a “Bee Boss” enemy.
The dude could literally post a single pixel and get thousands of likes. That’s the level of goodwill he’s built up.
One fan joked that Barone posting a new screenshot makes gaming journalists write articles about his tweets. Then Barone went ahead and posted another screenshot anyway. Self-aware and hilarious.
What Makes Barone Different
Most developers who find success with one game never quite … hit it again. They’ve got their money now, so who cares?
“It’s a dream game for me,” Barone says. “It’s the game I’ve always wanted to play. I pick it up and play again and I’m always thinking of new ideas; it’s like, “Okay, I can do these things in the game. The guy’s still adding updates to Stardew Valley for free. No money-collecting DLC, no subscription required, no in-game store.
Just free updates because he wants to.
He’s even got a Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons concert tour happening. A full orchestra playing music from the game.
In November 2024, Barone announced Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons, the second Stardew Valley concert tour featuring newly arranged music from the games performed by an orchestra with 35 members.
My sister went to one of those concerts last year. Said it was packed; everyone was singing along to the songs. A video game concert selling out venues. That’s the impact Stardew Valley has.
The Wait Continues
Haunted Chocolatier release date speculation is all over the place. Some people think 2026; others reckon 2027 or even 2028. Barone himself said he hopes to have it done by 2030, which… that’s still five years away.
But honestly? I’m okay waiting. Rushing a game never ends well. Look at all those broken AAA releases that come out half-finished.
Barone’s track record speaks for itself. He’ll release Haunted Chocolatier when it’s ready, and it’ll probably be incredible.
The screenshot he posted shows he’s still actively working on it. The art looks gorgeous. If fishing’s in the game, that means he’s thinking about all the little systems that made Stardew Valley special.
What We Know So Far
Haunted Chocolatier will have:
- Fishing (confirmed as of August 2025)
- Combat system (more than Stardew)
- A chocolate shop you run
- A haunted castle where you live
- A snowy town setting
- Ghosts (obviously, it’s in the name)
- A bigger world than Stardew Valley
- Books (Barone mentioned those too.)
The gameplay loop involves gathering ingredients, making chocolate, running your shop, and probably fighting off supernatural threats. Think Stardew Valley meets Moonlighter but with chocolate and ghosts.
My Honest Take
I’ve been playing Stardew Valley on and off since 2016. Put in maybe 300 hours across different platforms. Still haven’t completed everything.
When Barone announced Haunted Chocolatier four years ago, I got excited. Then the years kept passing with barely any updates. Started to wonder if it was vaporware.
But that screenshot last month? That treehouse looks sick. The colors, the detail, the atmosphere – it all looks amazing. And knowing fishing’s confirmed makes it feel more real.
The Stardew Valley creator reveals new screenshot situation reminds me why people trust this guy. He’s not hyping up his game with constant marketing and fake promises. He’s just quietly building something special, sharing bits and pieces when he feels like it.
Will Haunted Chocolatier be as good as Stardew Valley? No idea. But Barone’s earned enough goodwill that I’m willing to wait and find out.
Just hope we get more screenshots before 2030.