Summary
The 1.6 update ConcernedApe has planned forStardew Valleycould 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 ofStardew 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 thatStardew Valley’s 1.6 update will do much more than expand on its gameplay.
While players have been anticipating this latest update toStardew 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 thatStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatiershare 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 toStardew Valleyisn’t known yet, what has been revealed so far could tease players with new clues aboutHaunted 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 whenHaunted Chocolatier’s development was pausedin 2023 so that the focus could be placed onStardew Valley’s 1.6 update. It is arguably unusual forStardew Valleyto 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 andHaunted Chocolatier, this specific shift back toStardew Valleyand 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 onStardew Valleyfor the time being may have been influenced by the ongoing development ofHaunted Chocolatier. For instance, anything planned or changed forHaunted Chocolatiersuch as its story, characters, or features, might have prompted ConcernedApe to realize the potential for more direct connections between it andStardew Valley. Through the 1.6 update, ConcernedApe has the opportunity to lay the groundwork for these connections, something which could set playerexpectations forHaunted Chocolatierwhile 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 aboutStardew Valley’s 1.6 update, it’s possible elements fromHaunted Chocolatierthat players already know about might be included within the update’s content. For example, it could include references tocharacters that appeared inHaunted Chocolatier’s trailer, likeStardew 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 ofHaunted Chocolatier.
In particular, ConcernedApe has promised thatHaunted Chocolatierwill have a different and possibly darker tone compared toStardew 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 thatStardew ValleyandHaunted Chocolatier’s shared connection could be the villain of big business. These changes to theJoja Corporation could be settingHaunted Chocolatierupfor this promise of a darker story with a new spin on the themes of corporatization and commercialization last seen inStardew Valley.
