When Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, released Stardew Valley to the world, the indie darling went on to become one of the most popular independent titles to grace most of the major platforms. The charming, 2D farming simulator oozes addictively simple gameplay, idyllic pace, and bright visuals, making it a great pick-up-and-play title for casual and hardcore gamers alike.
Given that Stardew Valley was a single-person effort, and an exceedingly gargantuan one at that, it’s quite impressive that many of the game’s major updates continued to roll out over the years. This is on top of the fairly recent Nintendo Switch and mobile versions being launched as well. With the massive success of his passion project under his belt, ConcernedApe announced couple days ago that he is moving towards self-publishing for Stardew Valley on the PC, Xbox One, PS4, and the PS Vita. Former publisher Chucklefish will remain the publisher for the Nintendo Switch and mobile ports.
This is a huge step for the sole developer, as he mentions self-publishing as “the end-goal of most indie developers.” Alongside the celebration, Barone also has more planned for the long-time indie title, as he tells gamers to stay tuned and “expect some more announcements concerning the future of Stardew Valley soon.” It’s unknown yet what the new update may be, but given the vast freedom gamers are allowed in the game, the possibilities are limitless.
On Chucklefish’s side of things, Stardew Valley is still expecting an upcoming Android release as well as the multiplayer update for the Switch version. When the title was first announced for Nintendo’s flagship console, it quickly became one of the most anticipated indie games for the system, alongside powerhouses such as Hollow Knight. With its release, ConcernedApe saw huge spike in sales despite the two-year age of the game, no doubt contributing to his success today and this recent move towards publishing autonomy.