As Stardew Valley approaches its milestone 10th anniversary, creator Eric Barone—better known as ConcernedApe—finds himself in a rare position in the gaming world. What started as a solo project intended to be a better version of Harvest Moon has evolved into a global phenomenon, selling nearly 50 million copies and fostering a community that spans from die-hard modders to casual mobile players. In a candid interview with IGN, Barone looks back on a decade that has consumed his entire adult life, reflecting on his growth from a "scrappy amateur" to the leader of a small, dedicated team.

The Evolution of the Developer
The most profound shift in the last ten years for Barone hasn’t been his bank account or his fame, but his transition from total isolation to collaboration. When Stardew Valley launched in 2016, Barone was a true solo developer, having built every asset, composed every song, and written every line of code alone. Today, he works with a team to handle the massive business side of the franchise, from multiplayer infrastructure to translations into 12 languages. Despite this success, he remarkably still describes himself as an "amateur," a mindset he maintains to ensure he never stops striving for improvement. He views this "indie soul"—with its occasional rough edges—as the key to the game’s authentic character.

A Living, Breathing World
Stardew Valley is no longer just a "baby" Barone is incubating; he describes it as a child that has grown up and left the house. The game has become an entity external to him, shaped as much by the fans and modders as by his own updates. He notes that the physical human connection at events like the "Symphony of the Night" concert tour—seeing 5,000 fans in a sold-out venue—was what finally made the game’s impact feel real. This sense of responsibility to his players is what keeps him coming back to the Valley, even when he feels the pull of new projects like his upcoming game, Haunted Chocolatier.

Looking Toward the Future: Update 1.7 and Beyond
While many expected Barone to walk away after the massive 1.6 update, he confirmed that work on version 1.7 is already underway. He teased that the update will include two new marriage candidates—set to be revealed on the official anniversary—and long-requested improvements to how children function in the game. He also dropped a bombshell for dataminers: there is still a secret message hidden in the game's artwork that has never been found, one that is so obscure it may never be discovered.

Barone admits he struggles with the balance of adding new content without making the game feel "bloated." He often contemplates his purpose, wondering if he will work on the Valley for the rest of his life. Yet, as long as people are still playing, he feels an inspiration to keep digging deeper into the existing characters, adding layers of dialogue and new festival variants. For Barone, Stardew Valley has become his primary way of connecting with humanity, a destiny he intends to maximize for as long as the community remains.