Developed by Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe,Stardew Valleyis 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 aStardew Valleysequel.
ConcernedApe has been asked about apotential sequel toStardew Valleyon 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 directStardew Valleysequel.
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ConcernedApe’s Current Projects
It appears that both of ConcernedApe’s upcoming projects will follow a similar aesthetic toStardew Valleywith 2D pixel art. One of the titles is set to take place within thesame world asStardew 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 asStardew Valley. The other will tie into theStardew Valleyuniverse in some way but will be smaller in scope, and is not yet as concrete as the first.
ConcernedApe hinting at the possibility of aStardew Valley2 should not be taken as anything more than what it is - a possibility. However, even if thenext project released by ConcernedApeis 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 asStardew,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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Ideas for a Stardew Valley Sequel
Farming is not the only activity inStardew 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 inStardew 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 inStardew Valley,and characters likePelican Town’s mysterious Wizardcould 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 thevillagers inStardew Valleyhave 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 ofStardew 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 ofStardew Valley, even minor ones, that could be explored in greater detail. SinceStardew’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 muchStardew Valleyhas 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 ofStardew Valleywould 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 Valleyis available on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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