ConcernedApe provides update on Stardew Valley 1.6 console port, Haunted Chocolatier

Stardew Valley players on console and mobile will have to wait a little longer for update 1.6, though the port is still in the works, developer Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone has confirmed. The wait for the developer’s next title, Haunted Chocolatier, will be a little longer, as work on that project won’t resume until Stardew 1.6 is complete.

The solo developer behind Stardew Valley posted the Stardew 1.6 to X update today, acknowledging that fans may be frustrated by the long wait between the update’s PC release and the port to consoles and mobile. “I recognize that (the ports) are taking a long time,” he posted. “There are reasons for that, but the bottom line is that they’re not out yet, we’re still working on them, and they’ve been our primary focus since 1.6 came out on PC.”

In a response, Barone also explained why he decided to release and refine the new content on PC first. “If there are bugs (and there always will be), they can be fixed very quickly (on PC) and patches can be released, often within hours of discovering the bug,” he explained. “On console, it takes much longer to get a patch into the hands of players, so it’s ideal to have all the big issues fixed before you send them to consoles.”

He added that the port took much longer than initially expected due to technical issues with the porting process. “I was originally hoping it would be maybe a month apart,” Barone said. “Either way, I feel bad about it.”

While update 1.6 was originally intended to be a minor update, by the time it released on PC earlier this year, it included a ton of new content, from new festivals to crafting recipes and more. The major update even resulted in Stardew Valley setting a new concurrent player record on Steam.

While the influx of new content may be good news for Stardew players, fans waiting for Barone’s next project, Haunted Chocolatier, may not be so happy. As the developer noted earlier this year, he won’t be continuing work on the new project until Stardew 1.6 is properly completed. Barone reiterated this in his latest update, saying, “I haven’t touched Haunted Chocolatier in a while as I’m determined to finish Stardew 1.6 first.”