Eric Barone, the developer behind Stardew Valley, has given a rare update on his next project, Haunted Chocolatier, in a new interview with GQ. The Norwegian gaming outlet Gamer.no reported on the interview on 14 October 2026, noting that Barone used the conversation to share fresh details about the game.
Barone is best known as the creator of Stardew Valley, a farming simulation that became enormously popular. His follow-up project was first announced back in 2021, and until now fans have had little concrete information about how it will play.
According to Gamer.no, Haunted Chocolatier will differ noticeably from Stardew Valley. Farming and social relationships will take a smaller role, while action and exploration move to the centre of the experience.
Why it matters
Barone's comments give the clearest picture yet of what players can expect from a game that has been public knowledge for roughly five years without a firm release window. Stardew Valley built a large and loyal audience around slow-paced farm life, relationship building and community routines. A shift toward combat, gear and adventure signals that Barone is not simply repeating that formula.
The update also matters because of how little has been shown of the game. Barone has kept a tight hold on the project, and Gamer.no reports that he remains unwilling to let anyone play it until he decides the time is right. For a developer whose previous title sold on word of mouth and steady post-launch support, that restraint is itself newsworthy.
A town game that plays like an action RPG
Barone described the game to GQ in terms that place it in familiar territory while setting it apart from his earlier work. He said it is still what he would call a "town game," but that it behaves more like an action role-playing game, according to Gamer.no's account of the interview.
The main emphasis, Barone said, falls on adventure, on finding equipment and on growing stronger. He also confirmed the presence of monsters and boss enemies, Gamer.no reports.
That combination suggests a structure where players still spend time in a settled location, but where progress is measured through combat capability and the gear they collect rather than through crops or friendships. Barone's own framing, as relayed by Gamer.no, points to a game that keeps a hub at its centre while pushing players outward into danger.
Who the game is for
Barone indicated that Haunted Chocolatier should appeal to players who enjoyed the cave sections of Stardew Valley, according to Gamer.no. In Stardew Valley, the mines offered a break from farming, with descending levels, hostile creatures and ore to gather. Those sections had their own dedicated following, and Barone's comment suggests he is building on that interest rather than treating it as a side activity.
Gamer.no also reports that the game will place greater weight on the metaphysical, with clear traces of ghosts and magic. That fits the title's haunted theme and separates the project further from the grounded, pastoral tone of Stardew Valley.
Still no release date
Despite the new details, Barone gave no indication of when the game will be available. Gamer.no reports that no specific launch date has been set.
Barone was direct about his approach to showing the game publicly. He told GQ that nobody will play it before he is ready to present it, according to Gamer.no. He compared the project to a turkey that is only half roasted, a description that suggests he considers the game unfinished and not yet fit for outside eyes.
That stance leaves the timeline open. Haunted Chocolatier was announced in 2021, and Gamer.no notes that it still lacks a concrete release date. Barone's comments do not narrow the window, and they make clear that he intends to control when the game is seen.
What to watch
The next signal will likely come from Barone himself, whether through another interview or a first proper reveal. Until he says he is ready to show Haunted Chocolatier, the release date remains unset and the game remains unseen by anyone outside its development.
