Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has posted a new development update on Haunted Chocolatier, telling fans that his long-awaited follow-up to Stardew Valley is alive and well.
Barone admits the project is “taking a long time” and pins the slow pace on his obsession with detail. Anything players touch often, he says, has to feel “perfect”: seamless, clear, intuitive, satisfying, and aesthetic.
The specific system he’s currently grinding on is the chocolate recipe book. Since players will open it constantly, Barone has been iterating on it over and over until it lands right.
His checklist for the UI is strict. Players should hit their goal with the minimum number of clicks. Information needs to be balanced: not overwhelming, not empty. Data has to be grouped in a way that’s easy to read and nice to look at, not crammed together in an ugly clump.
And he wants more than usability. “I want more than just comfort. I want to delight the player,” he wrote, treating even a menu as a chance to add personality.
Fully baked bread only
Barone also explained why he keeps screenshots and system breakdowns to a minimum. Showing unfinished work, he says, is like serving “half-baked bread.” Systems can still change, and early reveals risk turning into broken promises. He’d rather wait and “serve a fully baked bread.”
He added that he’s “fortunately” not under pressure to market the game, a perk of Stardew Valley selling over 40 million copies and giving him full creative independence.
Haunted Chocolatier was first revealed in October 2021 as an action-RPG with shopkeeping, ingredient gathering, combat, and a haunted castle setting where ghosts help run a chocolate business. It’s a new project, not a Stardew sequel, and it leans more fantastical and action-focused than his first game.
