As a longtime player who has poured hundreds of hours into Pelican Town, I was genuinely surprised when Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone announced a new update for Stardew Valley. Isn't it amazing? Here we are, in 2026, nearly a decade after the game's initial release, and it's still receiving substantial new content. Just last year, Update 1.6 rolled out with a mountain of new features, and many of us assumed Barone would then fully dedicate himself to his next project, the eagerly awaited Haunted Chocolatier. The announcement of version 1.7 feels like an unexpected, wonderful blessing for the Stardew Valley community. Yet, as someone also desperately waiting for a glimpse into that haunted chocolate shop, I can't help but feel a tiny sting of a curse. Is this new update a minor detour, or will it become a significant roadblock for Barone's next creative venture?
On one hand, more content for a game that continues to thrive is always welcome news. Barone himself has admitted that this update will act as a slight diversion from his other commitments. The scale of Update 1.7 is still a mystery, but if we look at the massive content infusion from 1.6, it's reasonable to expect something substantial. This game is clearly Barone's pride and joy—it didn't just make him one of the most successful indie developers; it cemented Stardew Valley as the gold standard in the farming-life sim genre. His ongoing investment, even now, makes perfect sense. Just look at the numbers: on Steam alone, the game consistently attracts around 100,000 active players daily. That enduring popularity is a direct result of both the game's foundational charm and Barone's relentless commitment to nurturing its legacy.
However, this creates a fascinating and challenging crossroads for Barone—one he essentially paved himself back in 2021 with the announcement of Haunted Chocolatier. Since that reveal, information has been tantalizingly sparse: a handful of screenshots and brief updates. Considering Stardew Valley itself took just over four years to develop, 2026 could very well have been the target launch window for Haunted Chocolatier... if it were his sole focus. But Stardew Valley's persistent, vibrant community creates a powerful pull. Barone finds himself in the unique position of needing to breathe new life into a decade-old masterpiece while simultaneously building an entirely new world from the ground up. It's a monumental task for any developer, let alone one who primarily works alone.
So, what does Update 1.7 truly promise? More content, yes, but it undoubtedly comes with an unspoken price: time diverted from Haunted Chocolatier. Barone has reassured fans that the update will not interfere with the new game's development. But let's be realistic—there are only so many hours in a day, and Barone is famously hands-on with every aspect of his projects. His reassurance is essentially a promise that development on Haunted Chocolatier will not stop, but that is far from a guarantee that it won't slow down. History has shown us how these things can snowball. Update 1.6 started as a relatively minor patch but grew into a massive content expansion, during which work on Haunted Chocolatier was largely put on hold.
As a fan of both projects, my feelings are decidedly mixed. Here’s a quick breakdown of the current situation:
| Aspect | The Blessing (For Stardew Valley) | The Curse (For Haunted Chocolatier) |
|---|---|---|
| New Content | 🎉 More quests, items, and possibly areas to explore in a beloved world. | ⏳ Development time and creative energy are split. |
| Community Engagement | ❤️ Keeps the massive, active player base excited and engaged. | 😟 May lead to impatience and speculation from those awaiting the new game. |
| Developer's Focus | 👍 Shows Barone's enduring love and commitment to his first hit. | 🤔 Raises questions about timeline and resource allocation for his next hit. |
| Long-term Legacy | 🌟 Extends the lifespan and relevance of a modern classic. | 🔮 Could delay the arrival of what might become the next modern classic. |
The few glimpses we've had of Haunted Chocolatier suggest a beautifully eerie and intriguing world.
Ultimately, I find myself in a strange position. Every new piece of Stardew Valley content feels like a gift, a return to a digital home I know and love. I'm already dreaming of what 1.7 might bring—new crops? New villagers? Deeper mysteries in the mines? The possibilities are thrilling. Yet, a part of me watches the calendar, thinking about the haunted mansion and chocolate ghosts that still feel just out of reach. Barone is walking a tightrope of his own creation, balancing the legacy of his past with the potential of his future. All we can do as players is wait, support, and trust in the process. After all, if there's one thing Barone has proven, it's that his dedication results in extraordinary games, whether they arrive on our original schedule or his meticulously crafted one. The wait for Haunted Chocolatier might grow longer, but if Stardew Valley's journey is any indication, it will undoubtedly be worth it. In the meantime, we get to return to our farms once more. Is that really such a bad compromise?
