We need to talk about the NEW Haunted Chocolatier photos…

Concernedape dropped a major Haunted Chocolatier update on the game's official blog. Including brand new, never-before-seen screenshots of the game! Let's talk about it!
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[@BlackRogueDreams]

If there's one thing I've learned from games like Stardew Valley and Terraria, it's that releasing when it's ready is the best way to go.

[@RolieKloeOlie]

Playing terraria during beta ruined the game for me. Game resets every week put me off :’(

[@BlackRogueDreams]

@RolieKloeOlie considering we've been waiting a year for 1.4.5 I think they've learned their lesson.

[@illumistration]

I feel like Concerned Ape is the only exception to a lot of these rules. Usually you should hire a team, but he has such a specific flavour and beauty that would be lost. Usually announcing a game that early is a terrible idea, but his fans will be loyal to the bone no matter how long it takes. We live in an age where we want everything rushed, but I'm excited for this to take as long as it needs to.

[@LeoWolfish]

Agreed, plus I think it is because we know it is just one person that we have no issue waiting.

[@DL-idk]

He has proven his capacity to deliver incredible and unique game. The fact that he is still providing quality of life improvement and major updates for free years after Stardew’s release. I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes because he seems solid both as a dev and as a person. He doesn’t seem like someone who would send out empty promises.

[@Nuttybutters420]

Honestly complaining a game is announced too early is so stupid, like learn to regulate your emotions all.

[@illumistration]

@ I think the problem is when it’s something like Cyberpunk where you get people excited, announce a date, have to move that date back multiple times, and still not really have it “ready” for the launch but feel pressured.

[@barabara9855]

I don't think it hurts to have another programmer since there's no style in it and it would allow him more time to design the game

[@Elusive_Reclusive]

During the Disney renaissance, we waited 4 years between most films releases. Instant gratification has completely and utterly killed art. Four 4,5,6 years in not a long time to wait for a SINGLE person to make an entire game. I think this fan base is overall so patient and understanding of why art takes time. ♥️ I wish him well and will savor a well made dish when he’s ready to serve it to us.

[@MysteryDisc]

No we didn't; from 1989 to 1999 the only year there wasn't a renaissance film was 93

[@ariwl1]

In my opinion, announcing a game "too early" is more of an issue for bigger developers/publishers. When you have multiple games in the works under your roof, announcing too many too early runs the risk of the big ones overshadowing the little ones. Meanwhile when you're essentially a one-person studio like CA, announcing a game keeps you present in the fans' minds. I think it's better to have something concrete to show to give people to mull over rather than to just give vague assertions that you're working on "something" and then disappear for months or years at a time.

[@JM-zo5me]

I completely agree with your opinions on “Early Access” - I too applaud Concerned Ape for not handling Chocolatier that way.

[@ChotsPlace-yy9wq]

Thank you, Thank you for this great video. I totally agree with you - Haunted Chocolatier should not be rushed, it will come out WHEN it is Ready. I am totally entertained with Stardew Valley.

[@SimuLord]

Clearly what we need is to clone ConcernedApe and put all the clones to work for Concerned Industries.

[@tobiasnguyen2502]

But then, every ConcernedApes will want to make their own game, and they will all work by themselves 😂

[@ezratellington]

​@@tobiasnguyen2502ok but then in 5 years we will have as many games as we had CA clones? That may actually be cool.

[@caitiethompson]

Literally anything about Concerned Ape and Stardew Valley makes me cry lol. I don't know why I'm like this, but something about it is just so beautiful I can't handle it. The wholesomeness is too much!!!

[@Spinachlief]

i’m so excited that there’s some light farming involved and totally agree on the color scheme it’s giving winter without the visual whiplash. it’s gonna be a winter favorite.

[@sasquatchkiddo3720]

It's worth the wait. Stardew proved it was worth the wait, and he's really a one person show even with help here and there. I'm happy there's no early access too. We're lucky to even share a timeline with this man and get to play in the worlds he builds so I'm sooooo able to wait as long as necessary, because we know it's worth it.

[@rainypainyday]

concernedape stays being the king of indie devs. its crazy how much love and passion flows into his games and how you can feel all of it. im glad he keeps doing everything by himself for now, that way the end result is exactly what he wants and wished them to be and he ends up being really happy with them. im glad hes taking all the time in the world to say "the game is done when its done"

[@roku_mods]

We love Concerned. All those hating on him does not deserve the 1.6 update ¬¬

[@gamewrit0058]

5:30 I agree: I'm glad that we already know about Haunted Chocolatier, and I'm glad that he's taking the time and approach that works for him. I'm happily and patiently waiting for the game's release, and enjoying these peeks at progress. Plus, it's good to have something fun to look forward to. Please, dear friends, let's not get angry at, or demanding of, a kind, generous, and overworked creative, who, btw, owes us nothing.

[@breezytree8246]

I like that he keeps the same art style. My favorite board game designer does all the art and writing for his games and it all looks the same. I love his art style and it immerses you in the world.

[@Leila37-n7j]

I think negative criticisms can be louder than the silent support. so many communities have been fanning over haunted chocolatier and the soundtrack that was released. I wish he sold merch to Canada!

[@eddiegoncalves4491]

7:48 no one is gonna convince me that they're not Jas and Sam in the future

[@daliavargaslm]

this is so exciting, it's so cool to hear from him and get new updates!! also he gave us so much with the 1.6 update for stardew, makes total sense we have to wait more for HC and we will be patiently waiting 👏🏻

[@shae1539]

Concerned ape is such a rare breed. A genuine person that has stuck to his convictions.

[@siryacht]

I know it won't come out for a while, but I loved seeing the first update in a few years. Made me so happy

[@treyemory9725]

Hope you are feeling better, and I agree. This will totally be worth the wait.

[@rallaa941]

I definitely think it's good he's choosing to do it himself again. His work, in all areas, has a distinct style to it. Fans of Stardew will feel the familiarity within Haunted Chocolatier too.

[@Thesakuraharona]

I am happy with stardew valley's current state of play. I am ready to move on when he is ready. No rush. Just saying we got quite a bit more than we all originally expected, and I am already grateful for that much. I will be here waiting when it is ready :)

[@a_casual_hero5816]

The art style seems like a more "polished" of SDV. Familiar, but new and different. I cant wait to see more.

[@aychelleff]

The tiny fuzzy in the slime photo is everything I ever dreamed of. I’ll wait as long as I have to for that little creature

[@beex6]

LET THE APE COOK. This man does magic on his own and honestly we love him taking his time. Everything looks amazing so far so let him live, breathe, do his thing and we will ALL be glad we did that, because he never disappoints. Thank you for this video 💕

[@nicolestuder7130]

Thank you for sharing!! Love this and I'm so excited for whenever it comes out! Completely agree with you

[@Zodia195]

@7:37- That's a Water Wheel. It's okay if you didn't know the name. Any word from Eric makes me happy. I am a VERY patient person (I am Kingdom Hearts fan, I have to be lol). He's done so much and I'd rather have him take his time to create something he loves.

[@Thesakuraharona]

Lol any fan of that series has to be patient! I am too. So I feel that statement deeply. Here's hoping KH4 will be well worth the wait.

[@amberjames27]

Haunted Chocolatier needs to come out when he feels it is truly ready! Good art takes time and if it’s another 2-3 years then in my eyes is indeed worth the wait.

[@hypnoghoti]

I think the Jaz and Vincent theory makes sense. I think the lady does look like older Jaz and the Guy kinda looks like if you mashed Vincent and Kent together. Vincent's portrait on the wiki kind of has like a bluish tint to his eyes. (Though I could be wrong because my colorblindness does go crazy sometimes.)

[@HamiltonIsLife]

I’d rather wait 4 years for a game that’s complete and ready, than 1 year for a game that is patched once a week

[@Syaryde]

He proved himself over and over again with stardew valley idc if I have to wait many years I’m just excited to one day have it in my hands and enjoy it the way he intended! Very happy about the update!

[@Jessi62681]

3:30 Why would you want to pressure someone (someone who you don't even know personally) into hiring a team? If they're capable of doing everything themselves (and proved it already), then why not do it alone? There sure are indie devs that should have hired someone for their art or music or writing or whatever, but I don't think he's one of them. I think it's fine he announced the game so early. I was happy, then forgot about it while I was playing other games. Every once in a while some news pop up and I'm happy again, because I had already forgotten about this game. It's like hearing the announcement multiple times :D

[@Syaryde]

No so real cause every time I hear about it I get so excited all over again and then I go on with my life 😂 I’ll wait as long as it takes

[@eliseo4239]

Those portraits are 100% older Abigail and Sam. You can see Abigail wearing Caroline’s necklace from the necklace quest! Sam is Kent’s son, so obviously he will look like Kent when he’s older. Plus! The new character Maddie looks like Abigail, so she could be her daughter! You can see the Abigail and Sam in the trailer when your character is in the “saloon”. My mind is racing about all of this!!! I’m so excited!!

[@NEWGHOST9]

Doubtful, ik it takes place in the stardew valley universe but makes more sense to have em be difficult characters imo

[@eliseo4239]

@ they very well could be different characters and just a nod to stardew but it’s so freaking similar! Comparing the portraits the mouth and nose for Abigail and Sam are identical I think it’s too much of a coincidence. We’ll never know but it’s fun theorizing

[@katjosephperez8772]

I want to hug those trees

[@mymthegreyful]

Excellent ! Maybe that little fuzzy one is shepherd for the rest of he slimes ?

[@sandyevers5500]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ this update. Glad I came to you first 😊. No CA should take his time and we'll all ❤ the game when it comes out.😊 Thanks Mriz

[@StarryParfait]

A couple days ago, I watched your 2024 Haunted Chocolatier video just for this news to come out, and I came right back to your channel! 🤭

[@krystelbeaulieu-thibault3621]

i'm surrprised you did not talk about the first thing we see, the ghost, apparently it's called Baba when you open the GIF in a new tab.

[@MRIZZY]

OMG BABA 😭 love that

[@_kwak]

ConcernedApe not only dropping incredible updates to an amazing game, but plans for a whole new title is so titalating!

[@RowanWolf22]

Isn’t this game meant to be in the same universe as SV? So in my opinion, the style being alike (his OWN style, and not changing it up drastically either) makes even more sense as it’s in a way continuing a story in a different part of this said universe. Usually developer’s art improves as time goes by (visible here, also pointing to Life is Strange etc) - you have the general art style and design that at its key core is the same, but develops with each game. I’m genuinely excited for this too, I think it’ll be great Big question is can I romance that female character he has shown 🙈 Because she is LOVELY

[@Chad-ug5mb]

Just look at Vincent father and compared to that guy. You can see Vincent will growing up and looking like his father

[@PhaethonCrafts]

I mean let's face it, it still might release before Witchbrook at this point lol.

[@journeyofgreen3958]

CA needs to do this in his way so he can be "happy" with the result. Also, Stardew has something of a "soul" to it that would not be there without his direct influence.

[@RumiRHood]

the only thing i wish for is we can finally be able to marry a magical being in this game

[@rubyvamplaw]

Ya the water wheel looks great at the water mill.

[@whimsicalrutie]

honestly he's so real and he's rly passionate about his work! i have so much respect for concerned ape. i think he wants to spend the rest of his life doing things he truly loves and being true to himself regardless of what other ppl might feel about it, and yeah, i think that's very commendable.

[@delfinogonzalez-serna9454]

I just started playing a playthrough of Stardew and loving it so I am sure when the time comes I'll love Haunted Chocolatier too!

[@pappoenamphis1825]

Nobody complain about all dbz characters lookin alike... it's called art style

[@jay__birdie]

The sock equipment slot is so intruiging to me

[@WhoIsCalli]

Thanks for covering this. Great debrief

[@ultrapunch]

Another great deep dive. Thanks for making this video.

[@Mojo_Jojo9869]

11:00 could be Mona it could be a pre-quel to stardew. That would be so much fun to connect them. Maybe thats why they look similar to the other characters it’s their grandparents ect.

[@KassidyKobold]

I wasnt expected stuff like this until next year

[@shylahmiller201]

I'm going to say something and I hope I don't sound like a creep but your voice is so soothing and the way you say Haunted Chocolatier tickles something in my brain lol! Love your videos and I completely agree with you! Let ConcernedApe cook 🤣

[@aaliyah452]

I like the art style it’s just the characters when walking around look weird but it’s early

[@pigcatapult]

Slime mushrooms in cotton candy colors… candy ingredients?

[@OhniMochi]

Different slimes = different flavors. I love that idea.

[@Mojo_Jojo9869]

I understand him doing it by himself. I don’t want the game to sound like 2 people wrote it. It’s like 2 artist working on the same art piece sometimes it wont mix or blend into each other it just turns into 2 paintings on a canvas.

[@crulius.pontanian]

If Concerned Ape ever made a game studio it would have to feature Joja in its name.

[@sueholdener4135]

My thought is that there’s no way that Vincent could grow up to look like that portrait…..but then I remember how hot Neville Longbottom turned out so idk.

[@mmgh1421]

Concerned Ape is the best!!!

[@T_M___]

i LOVE the Jas & Vincent theory!

[@FloraisaWizard]

Well according to the Google rabbit hole I just went down - the wheel thing is called an undershot water wheel and is most likely used for grinding grain or otherwise powering machinery? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and hypothesize that it's for making sugar out of beets for chocolate 🧐 We know we need ingredients to make it... and it definitely seems like we've got a cold weather crop situation going on outside (my guess here is Carrots, potatoes, and sugar beets) Honestly my favorite part of that screenshot is the drying herbs outside the door I mean look 🥹 I am deceased it's all so good and I'm so excited and proud of him for staying some sort of Hermit wizard, crafting magic for however long it takes 🙏✨️

[@gnoxgnomolos882]

These new Screenshots are awesome. Patience fellows, the game will come out when its ready, like every coming out should be.

[@kahvipaputyyppi]

The 1.6 update will keep his fans happy for a long time, I think it was the right decision to offer more content to the existing game at this point! Watching this video inspired me to buy stardew for mobile also, to show my support for him. I'm not a mobile gamer but that is the format I haven't bought yet. 🤗

[@Thesakuraharona]

I am considering buying a physical copy for switch (if it is truly physical on cart. Should be. Don't a very big game technically), just so I own a copy forever if steam dies.

[@thechosenone729]

I like that he actually doing it alone and i wouldn't want it otherwise even if the game would come out sooner that's why stardew is so good.

[@mariaav8800]

Midwest Magic Cleaning sent me😊 he speaks highly of your channel❤

[@living-undead]

People are too prone to spewing hate at everything everywhere, these screenshots are beautiful.

[@RukoS-xy6jo]

I hope I have time to play this when it'll get released. Working 54 hours a week and 2 hours of commuting everyday is so tiring..

[@Nu_Atma]

We need to be able to pre-order it.

[@l0remipsum991]

Babe wake up! CA posted HC update.

[@chaosensei675]

I have no idea who you are bc this randomly appeared in my feed. As soon as you mentioned the plushies, I saw the chao plush on your shelf and that was my only reason for subscribing. Good video btw, liked it a lot. Hope to see more. Edit: Might not be a chao plush actually but eh, I’m still subbing. Good video regardless.

[@barabara9855]

I love how passionate she is about it

[@Noustella]

It would make since with Mona being dead. It is *Haunted* Chocolatier afterall.

[@Alchemica]

I think you're onto something with Mona, it's >HAUNTED< chocolatier. I don't think the name Mona is a coincidence, she resembles Jaz so much as well!

[@thegrokewillgetu]

Let's let ConcernedApe cook.

[@sweettaterfries]

Concernedape Core is my new style

[@biffwalen]

It to me looks like fighting monsters for loot will be a big mechanic from the Slime Hoard picture. Again a theory. If farming is not a mechanic maybe there will be more Foraging and fighting/hunting mechanics to the new game? with Ghosts taking the automation processes of the chocolate factory? Cause there is a lot of cute ghost art already floating around it and it is called Haunted in the game title.

[@angelcake001]

FREAKING OUTT 🤩

[@Mojo_Jojo9869]

Yeah you can only draw so many different attractive characters in one Style, they will look similar. I agree id be okay with the characters being similar to star-dew as long as gameplay and the relationships are there it’s nice.

[@makenna5883]

The pink slimes look like Kirby

[@pinguaina]

Posting on his blog is not exactly doing it secretly.

[@crazyanastar2431]

Concerned Ape is becoming too Terraria core with the small updated turning to full blown content 😂

[@tyjopopp2164]

I'm so excited!

[@ahoyadam]

I know CA is committed to Stardew but he’s gone above and beyond for that game and everyone who has purchased it. I think he can move on to his next project with no guilt what so ever.

[@BrightBlueInk]

I hope there's not TOO much farming. I'm not a huge fan of farming games (i pretty much like SV *in spite* of the farming), so one of the big reasons I'm excited for HC is that it's more of a shop simulation game, which is a genre i *do* like and there's not as many good solid examples in the cozy gaming space. (I'm still waiting for a game that truly captures the charm of Reccetear.) There are soooo many cozy farming games, a lot of them truly good (Story of Seasons, Rune Factory, Mistria... When games that aren't actually farming games will often have farming in it anyway), i don't think farming game fans are really hurting right now.

[@Aniixxiia]

I quite don’t understand why people already hating on the new character teaser. Even though his art style improved through time with SV development. HC will have the same phase as SV early development.

[@adrienrevol1774]

Hi mriz!! :)

[@Trenjeska]

At least the mess is real, it is neat :)

[@Chonrad]

I’m glad CA is willing to take the time to do it right. I get frustrated that if you get a game these days, the first you do on getting it, is download the game and start it up to find how large the FIRST make the game work as promised download is going to be…. I’m not too cynical about that, am I?

[@kevenbenavides5565]

Personally I'd rather developers wait until the game is complete rather than rush to release

[@Craxin01]

The woman's portrait looks an awful lot like a girl I had a crush on in high school. Hope she's a marriage candidate!

[@zamudiosaltoandres3059]

Este video es bastante bueno para practicar mi speaking en reading en english. This is such a good video to pactice my speaking and reading in english.😗😙

[@jimmysthoughts8571]

Most of this didn't hype me up but I do like the equipment picture. I agree with you that anything that clears up more inventory space is good. It also indicates that combat is going to be a higher focus, which I think is good, since combat never really felt all that enjoyable in Stardew Valley. Not a priority for a lot of people but if he ups the combat to be more enjoyable, I can only see that as a good thing. I will say, I would love that if he does a bar for the inventory again, if he could get us up to four. Or just someway to be able to carry a bit more stuff. In early game, inventory is a pretty big struggle but it doesn't feel that much better late game when you're doing skull cavern runs and still having to stop and dump stuff on the regular to make room for what you want.

[@BodieB]

9:03 - They migrated from Terraria.

[@Cibbic]

Lol naah

[@loke6664]

Getting a team would mean the game would come out sooner but it will also add other people's vision to the game which I feel would be a mistake. One of the reason Stardew got so popular is that you can feel Concerned Apes passion and hard work he put into the game. We also seen a lot of cases of many teams working out fine in the beginning to only fall apart as people start going in different directions. It is a very different thing if he hire in someone to optimize the game once it is designed, that is more of a technical thing. I do not believe that woman is Jas, it is just a similar drawing style. I don't think the game is even set in the Fern republic but somewhere else in the world. Technological wise, they seem to be on a similar level so it is probably set at about the same time as Stardew is but somewhere else in the world, further north (or south it is set in the Southern hemisphere). I don't think that farm is player run, it is more likely that you can buy things from it for your chocolate manufacturing. The sock slot is odd, I never seen a sock slot in any game before and all the other slots are kinda standard RPG/action game slots. On one hand, it is great that you have weapon slots on it. Then again, I use more then 1 weapon when I run skull caverns myself, I at least have a bug killer sword and a crusader mallet on me so I can kill those annoying bugs and don't have to waste bombs on mummies so chances are that it will make switching weapons in the middle of combat harder which might be slightly annoying in a more combat focused game. Anyways, I think he should take his time perfecting the game. I rather have a great game a few years from now then a mediocre game soon. There are far too many mediocre games being made today as it is and since he is a single dev and probably can live on Stardew for the rest of his life if he doesn't go insane with wasting money, he is in a lot better position then most game devs today. An AAA game made in 2024 cost about $200 millions at average to make and they will release the game as soon as they can since it is so much money, patching in all the mistake and adding in content that should have been there at launch as DLCs later. So I am looking forward to this eventually coming out but I ain't giving any crap to CA for taking his time. Ignore the complainer and make the game as fun as possible to play instead, even if it takes another 5 years.

[@hannahweiss4834]

I don’t even wanna know how hot Elliot or Shane could be now 😂

[@merla692]

yeah, it looks identical to stardew valley

[@QuesoCookies]

I'm one of those that would have much preferred we didn't get Stardew Valley 1.6 if it meant more progress on Haunted Chocolatier. I, of course, appreciate new updates on a beloved game, but I find the new content of 1.6 is a little atonal and doesn't really bring anything exciting to the game, which makes it extra disappointing as an HC delay. That said, it seems pretty clear that Barone needed a break, so it doesn't really matter how disappointed I am or anyone else is, he should take all the time he needs. I'll probably forget about HC after a while, but that's only to his benefit. I'll be all the more surprised and delighted whenever it's done.

[@Aliensupastarr]

ugh i cant wait