Stardew Valley 1.6: What It Means for Haunted Chocolatier's Release

Last Updated: October 23, 2025

For years, the Stardew Valley community has followed a familiar, exciting pattern: celebrate a massive new update, then immediately wonder how it affects the timeline for developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone's next highly anticipated game, Haunted Chocolatier. With the landmark 1.6 update now successfully launched on PC, we finally have a clear answer and a definitive look at what comes next.

The massive Stardew Valley 1.6 update arrived for PC players on March 19, 2024, far exceeding its initial billing as a modest patch. The update introduced a wealth of new content, including a new farm type (Meadowlands Farm), major new festivals like the Desert Festival and Trout Derby, hundreds of new lines of dialogue, new late-game content, and support for 8-player multiplayer on PC.

The Road to 1.6 and Haunted Chocolatier

This substantial release put to rest the long-standing community concerns about a hypothetical "1.7 update" delaying Haunted Chocolatier. In reality, it was the 1.6 update that became the central focus. What started as a smaller project intended to facilitate modding grew in scope as Barone, in his characteristic fashion, couldn't resist adding more for the players.

Leading up to the release, Barone was transparent about his development priorities. He confirmed that he had paused development on Haunted Chocolatier entirely to dedicate his full attention to perfecting the 1.6 update and ensuring a smooth launch. While this did technically delay his work on the new game, fans understood the trade-off: a definitive, feature-rich update for the beloved farming sim he felt a duty to support. His dedication was a clear message that he wouldn't leave the Stardew community behind.

What's Next for ConcernedApe?

Now that the 1.6 update is out and receiving praise, the development landscape has shifted significantly. After releasing a few hotfixes to address initial bugs, Barone announced he would take a short, well-deserved break. Following that, his primary focus will pivot back to the project fans have been waiting for: Haunted Chocolatier.

In a statement on social media, ConcernedApe clarified the road ahead: "After the 1.6 update is polished and out on all platforms, I will be returning to work on Haunted Chocolatier."

This confirms what many had hoped for. The immense effort poured into Stardew Valley 1.6 was not a permanent distraction but a final, major love letter to the game before passing the torch to his next creative endeavor. The question is no longer whether Stardew Valley will delay Haunted Chocolatier, but rather how much momentum the new project will gain with Barone's renewed focus.

While he has casually mentioned that a Stardew Valley 1.7 update will likely happen someday, he has given no timeline and stressed that it is not his current priority. For the foreseeable future, the spotlight belongs to the whimsical, mysterious world of Haunted Chocolatier.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the release of Stardew Valley's 1.6 update represents a best-case scenario for fans of ConcernedApe's work. The community received one of the most significant content updates in the game's history, and the path is now clear for the development of Haunted Chocolatier to resume in earnest. The wait for the enchanted chocolate shop may have been extended, but it was for a worthy cause, and now that wait is finally nearing its end.