Developed by Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe, Stardew Valley is one of the most successful indie games ever released. Last year saw the release of the game’s biggest update so far in the form of Version 1.5, which introduced the perfection rating system that tracks what percentage of the game players have completed and awards those who reach 100 percent. While there is nothing to suggest further updates are in development, ConcernedApe said there could be a 1.6 at some point, further updates, or perhaps even a Stardew Valley sequel.
ConcernedApe has been asked about a potential sequel to Stardew Valley on numerous occasions. It is something that many fans have hoped for since the indie title was first released back in 2016. He said in the past that he is currently working on two different projects, but the information he has offered so far is vague and does not give much insight into the form these projects will take. As such, it is not entirely clear whether or not either project is intended to serve as a direct Stardew Valley sequel.
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It appears that both of ConcernedApe's upcoming projects will follow a similar aesthetic to Stardew Valley with 2D pixel art. One of the titles is set to take place within the same world as Stardew Valley, but will not revolve around farming. It is said to be “an ambitious project” that has been in slow development for several years, and it will be twice as detailed as Stardew Valley. The other will tie into the Stardew Valley universe in some way but will be smaller in scope, and is not yet as concrete as the first.
ConcernedApe hinting at the possibility of a Stardew Valley 2 should not be taken as anything more than what it is – a possibility. However, even if the next project released by ConcernedApe is not a sequel to the beloved farming simulator, he has not ruled out such a game. The fact that one of the projects currently in development will be set in the same world as Stardew, while the other will at least relate to it in some way, has led many fans to speculate what they could be about and just how they could tie into the current game.
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Farming is not the only activity in Stardew Valley, and many fans would love to see a game that ties into some of the concepts already developed, such as the adventurer’s guild. While the combat mechanics are somewhat simplistic in Stardew Valley, there is a lot of potential to expand upon the magic and lore of the world in interesting ways. There is plenty of magic in Stardew Valley, and characters like Pelican Town's mysterious Wizard could allow for a segue into exploring this further. Fishing is another popular activity, and something that could also fit into a new project.
Others would enjoy seeing something related to the romance system present in the game. Many fans have pointed out that the friendship-hearts system is something that could be improved, as the only way to befriend characters is through constantly bestowing gifts upon them. All of the villagers in Stardew Valley have fleshed-out, multidimensional personalities and backstories, and it would be interesting to see some of these characters developed even further if they were to appear in other games.
Another thing that would certainly be worth exploring is the rest of Stardew Valley's world; perhaps a sequel could even see some of the characters that players are already familiar with in a new setting outside of Pelican Town. Some fans have even speculated that one of ConcernedApe's new projects could be set in the city many characters reference, and perhaps even have something to do with Joja Corporation.
There are so many aspects of Stardew Valley, even minor ones, that could be explored in greater detail. Since Stardew’s release the farming and life simulator RPG genre has grown immensely; newer titles have expanded on different features in innovative ways, such as introducing more open-world concepts and incorporating town-building or dating simulator elements. Other games have been located in increasingly unusual settings. Given how much Stardew Valley has influenced countless other titles, it is likely ConcernedApe’s upcoming new titles, regardless of the form they take, will also greatly appeal to fans of the relevant genres. The charm and originality of Stardew Valley would be hard to top, but ConcernedApe's dedication to his art proves that any project released under his name will likely be a success.
Stardew Valley is available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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