Who makes it · Developer and publisher
ConcernedApe
Based in United States
ConcernedApe is the studio of Eric Barone, who made the farming game Stardew Valley largely by himself and is developing Haunted Chocolatier. Stardew Valley is sold once, and its content updates since the 2016 launch have been free.
Track-record badges
What stands out, worst first
- Pay-once house
Pay-once house
Stardew Valley is sold once; its large content updates, including 1.5 in 2020 and 1.6 in 2024, have been free, and Barone pledged in 2024 never to charge for DLC or updates. - Independent
Independent studio
Eric Barone has self-published Stardew Valley since December 2018 and on all platforms since March 2022, after ending his publishing deal with Chucklefish.
Track record
What's on the record, newest first
- Good practice
Pledged never to charge for DLC or updates
Eric Barone posted on X: "I swear on the honor of my family name, i will never charge money for a DLC or update for as long as I live."
Nintendo Life - Good practice
Released the 1.6 content update for Stardew Valley at no extra charge
The 1.6 update, released on PC on 19 March 2024 and later on consoles and mobile, added new content to the eight-year-old game. IGN described it as one of the free updates the game has received since its 2016 launch.
IGN - Other
Became Stardew Valley's publisher on all platforms
Chucklefish handed over publishing of the mobile version, the last platform it published, leaving ConcernedApe set up to self-publish Stardew Valley on all platforms.
Chucklefish - Good practice
Released the free 1.5 content update for Stardew Valley
ConcernedApe released Stardew Valley's 1.5 content update on PC as a free update, with consoles and mobile following later.
ConcernedApe (Stardew Valley blog) - Other
Took over publishing Stardew Valley from Chucklefish
Eric Barone announced that from 14 December 2018 he would self-publish Stardew Valley on PC, Xbox, PS4 and PS Vita, with Chucklefish remaining publisher on Switch and mobile; Chucklefish later returned the remaining publishing duties.
ConcernedApe (Stardew Valley blog)
Settlements are often made without an admission of wrongdoing; we say so where it matters. Follow each source for the full detail.
Games in the guide
What ConcernedApe made or published
Each game's money rating is its own: it comes from how that game makes money, not from the company's record.
Last checked 1 November 2026. Sources: www.stardewvalley.net, www.eurogamer.net, www.gamedeveloper.com, www.stardewvalley.net, www.stardewvalley.net, www.ign.com, www.stardewvalley.net, en.wikipedia.org, chucklefish.org, www.nintendolife.com. Spotted something wrong or missing? Send a correction.