It’s rare to hear about a game developer turning down cash, especially when their work is a massive hit. Yet, Eric Barone, the brilliant mind behind the beloved farming simulator Stardew Valley, recently shared a surprising truth. He’s been involved in numerous collaborations with other popular games. Despite these high-profile team-ups, he has never pocketed a single penny from any of them.
Barone, known online as ConcernedApe, explained his unique approach on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. Fans had been asking about Stardew Valley’s guest appearances in other titles. These include big names like Terraria, Balatro, and the upcoming Infinity Nikki. Barone’s message was clear: his decisions aren’t about money. He said he only agrees to these partnerships because he genuinely loves the other games. He also does it because he thinks players would really enjoy seeing the crossover content.
There have been a few collaborations between Stardew Valley and other games over the years. To be clear, i never receive any money from these collabs. I’ve only done them because I was a fan of the other games, or because I genuinely thought the players would like it.
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) August 21, 2025
Stardew Valley launched way back in 2016. That makes it about nine years old now. It’s a testament to Barone’s dedication that the game still gets regular updates. This commitment comes even as he juggles many other game projects. His passion seems to be a key ingredient in the game’s lasting success and its continued presence in the gaming world.
Speaking of new projects, fans often ask about his next big title, Haunted Chocolatier. Barone confirmed that he’s still hard at work on it. He mentioned being very excited to share new details about the game. Players will have to wait until it’s complete, but his commitment to his craft remains clear.