Why Stardew Valley Updates Could Be Crucial for Haunted Chocolatier’s Story

The 1.6 update ConcernedApe has planned for Stardew Valley could do more than add new features to the hit farming sim, as it could lay the groundwork for the developer’s second upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier. As part of Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 update, players have been promised a sweeping range of new and improved content throughout the game, such as new items, recipes, farm types, festivals, and even more secrets. Since ConcernedApe has advised players to start over to make the most of these changes, it seems that Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 update will do much more than expand on its gameplay.

While players have been anticipating this latest update to Stardew Valley, many are still focused on ConcernedApe’s next game, Haunted Chocolatier, which shares its style and gameplay approach with the farming sim. These similarities and hints from ConcernedApe about potential connections have led to speculation that Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier share an in-game universe, a theory that might finally be confirmed and capitalized on with the 1.6 update. Though the complete list of what will be added to Stardew Valley isn’t known yet, what has been revealed so far could tease players with new clues about Haunted Chocolatier‘s story, characters, and more.

ConcernedApe is Split Between Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier

Given that ConcernedApe consists of Eric Balone as a one-man development team, it wasn’t exactly a surprise when Haunted Chocolatier‘s development was paused in 2023 so that the focus could be placed on Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 update. It is arguably unusual for Stardew Valley to receive all-new content despite being released back in 2016, unlike other developers that would have committed to a new game by this point. Since it appeared that that was the case for ConcernedApe and Haunted Chocolatier, this specific shift back to Stardew Valley and its 1.6 update mid-development suggests more could be going on behind the scenes.

Stardew Valley’s 1.6 Update Could Prepare Players for Haunted Chocolatier

Though it is just as speculative as the shared universe theory, ConcernedApe’s decision to focus on Stardew Valley for the time being may have been influenced by the ongoing development of Haunted Chocolatier. For instance, anything planned or changed for Haunted Chocolatier such as its story, characters, or features, might have prompted ConcernedApe to realize the potential for more direct connections between it and Stardew Valley. Through the 1.6 update, ConcernedApe has the opportunity to lay the groundwork for these connections, something which could set player expectations for Haunted Chocolatier while also building hype for its release.

How Stardew Valley’s 1.6 Update Could Connect to Haunted Chocolatier

Based on what’s been confirmed so far about Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 update, it’s possible elements from Haunted Chocolatier that players already know about might be included within the update’s content. For example, it could include references to characters that appeared in Haunted Chocolatier‘s trailer, like Stardew Valley‘s bartender Gus or blacksmith Clint mentioning their prospective counterparts of Nigel and Burk, as per early gameplay footage. These and other connections could be introduced with new dialogue options, end-game quests, or even existing or new item descriptions, such as the Chocolate Cake or Maple Bar, alluding to the world of Haunted Chocolatier.

In particular, ConcernedApe has promised that Haunted Chocolatier will have a different and possibly darker tone compared to Stardew Valley, though it’s unclear what exactly this could mean for its story or gameplay. However, between the scrapped plans for Joja Corporation’s antagonistic role and now its upcoming content in the 1.6 update, it’s possible that Stardew Valley and Haunted Chocolatier‘s shared connection could be the villain of big business. These changes to the Joja Corporation could be setting Haunted Chocolatier up for this promise of a darker story with a new spin on the themes of corporatization and commercialization last seen in Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley

Released

February 26, 2016

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

Publisher(s)

ConcernedApe

Genre(s)

RPG , Simulation

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer

Engine

Proprietary

ESRB

E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)

How Long To Beat

53 Hours

X|S Enhanced

No

File Size Xbox Series

1 GB (November 2023)

Metascore

89

Split Screen Orientation

Vertical or Horizontal

Number of Players

1-4

Steam Deck Compatibility

Verified

Local Co-Op Support

1-4 Players