Stardew Valley fans have been treated to a rare glimpse into the creative process behind the game, thanks to creator Eric Barone, also known as ConcernedApe on social media. In a recent post on Twitter, Barone shared a small selection of his original sketches, the seeds that eventually grew to become the beloved farming simulator. Stardew Valley fans have since been asking for an official artbook.
The sketches in question, taken from Barone's personal archive, include a series of handwritten notes and comments that provide some insight into how the designer expected players to interact with the different characters and items in the game. Fans were quick to gravitate towards one sketch in particular, the concept art for the community center, a key feature in the game.
The drawings have generated a great deal of excitement among fans, many praising the designer’s creative vision and attention to detail. The calls for an artbook soon followed the tweet, countless players having asked if Barone plans to sell any of his sketches.
"If you published this notebook and sold it, I’d buy it, this is adorable," one fan remarked. “Oh my god, I’d love to see more concept pictures if you find any,” another said. “This is so cute.”
Barone's willingness to share his early sketches with fans is a testament to his commitment to the Stardew Valley community. The designer previously confirmed there will be more content for the game in the form of Update 1.6 which will include changes to allow for easier and more powerful modding in addition to some "new game content, albeit much less than 1.5.”
Players may very well, on the other hand, have to wait for Barone's highly anticipated follow up to Stardew Valley, Haunted Chocolatier. Barone recently confirmed that he was taking a break from work on the game in order to focus on Stardew Valley, especially Update 1.6.
Worth mentioning is that Update 1.5 was in fact quite large, introducing a new level and farm features, among other things. Update 1.6 will be less expansive in terms of new content, suggesting that it may be released soon, but fans of Stardew Valley shouldn’t get their hopes up just yet. This isn’t the first time that Barone has confirmed the existence of Update 1.6, having mentioned it previously during the launch of the mobile version of Update 1.5. In much the same way, the release of Haunted Chocolatier remains uncertain, Barone having announced the recent break to work on Stardew Valley.
Despite these delays, Barone's commitment to his fans remains clear. By sharing his early sketches and ideas, the designer has given players a unique glimpse into the creative process behind one of the most beloved simulators in recent years. With the release of Update 1.6 on the horizon, fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming months.