Stardew Valley Creator ConcernedApe Doesn't Ask for Money for Collabs, Insists He Only Does It With Games He's a Fan Of, or Because He 'Genuinely Thought Players Would Like It'

Stardew Valley developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has revealed helium doesn't inquire for immoderate compensation erstwhile his fan-favorite workplace sim collabs with different franchises, saying helium lone does them due to the fact that "[he] was a instrumentality of the different games, oregon due to the fact that [he] genuinely thought players would similar it."

The connection comes arsenic fans hole for a crossover lawsuit betwixt Stardew Valley and Infinity Nikki, which goes unrecorded connected September 1. Although we inactive don't truly recognize what this volition involve, exactly, determination are already immoderate amazingly mixed reactions coming from the community, with immoderate players upset astir the timing, suggesting it's an all-too-convenient distraction from the caller contention astir leakers.

"There person been a fewer collaborations betwixt Stardew Valley and different games implicit the years," Barone posted connected X/Twitter yesterday. "To beryllium clear, I ne'er person immoderate wealth from these collabs. I've lone done them due to the fact that I was a instrumentality of the different games, oregon due to the fact that I genuinely thought the players would similar it."

Interestingly, Infinity Nikki responded straight to Barone from its authoritative X/Twitter account.

"We truly admit you sharing your feelings connected this. Any unintended accent was the past happening we wanted. It was our mode of saying acknowledgment — a escaped emotion missive to Stardew Valley from our squad and for the community," the connection said.

"Working connected it felt similar we were each tending a small workplace together. The attraction and item you determination into your satellite is precisely wherefore we privation to marque cozy games too. We're inactive learning from you each day."

To beryllium fair, it feels arsenic though the fallout from the Stardew Valley collab is conscionable a substance of atrocious timing here. The Infinity Nikki assemblage has been unhappy ever since update 1.5 added immoderate arguable changes to the game, specified arsenic retconning Infinity Nikki's story, and ramping up the wealth and clip investments required to cod afloat outfits.

It's not that Barone does this each that often, either. Stardew Valley has lone ever worked with a fistful of different games, specified arsenic Balatro and Terraria.

Back successful May, Barone admitted that helium "didn't privation to conscionable beryllium the Stardew Valley guy," explaining that was wherefore he's presently moving connected Haunted Chocolatier. We shouldn't expect a merchandise day anytime soon, though — there's "still a batch to beryllium done," Barone precocious admitted, peculiarly arsenic helium feels it's "got to beryllium better" than Stardew Valley.

Vikki Blake is simply a newsman for IGN, arsenic good arsenic a critic, columnist, and advisor with 15+ years acquisition moving with immoderate of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's besides a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her astatine BlueSky.