ConcernedApe opens up about the pressure of following Stardew Valley

[Always_Warren21]

Eric Barone, better known as ConcernedApe, has given a long interview to GQ about making Haunted Chocolatier, and GamesRadar has picked out the highlights. The creator of Stardew Valley says he feels real pressure to meet fans' expectations with his next game. He describes the creative process as different this time, and harder to adjust to

When he made Stardew Valley, he had no audience and nothing to live up to. He says the game began as a small side project to improve his programming skills while he was unemployed. Its huge success was never part of the plan, and he still finds it hard to grasp how many people have played it

Now he feels that a massive fanbase is watching every move. He worries that going against their expectations could disappoint millions of people. It is a very human admission, and one that many creators who hit it big early will recognise

Barone says he wants to recapture the feeling he had while making Stardew Valley. Haunted Chocolatier was announced five years ago and is moving at a pace he sets himself. He has described it as a game for Stardew players who miss the mines, and he has said he will not rush it or release it early at the expense of quality

It is refreshing to hear a developer talk so openly about the pressure of success. Stardew Valley has been updated for free for years, and Barone has earned enormous goodwill. Most fans will happily wait for a game made with the same care

Are you happy to wait as long as it takes for Haunted Chocolatier? And what would you most like to see in it?

Stardew Valley creator iswww.gamesradar.com