Stardew Valley video game

Stardew Valley is a critically acclaimed farm life simulation game originally released in February 2016. It was famously created by a single developer, Eric Barone, under the professional alias ConcernedApe. Based in Seattle, Washington, Barone spent over four years developing every aspect of the project, including the programming, art, writing, and musical score. Heavily inspired by the Harvest Moon series, the game eventually became a global phenomenon, revitalizing the farming simulation genre and selling over 50 million copies by early 2026.

While the game was initially published on PC by the British studio Chucklefish to allow Barone to focus on development, the ownership of the brand remained entirely with the creator. Over time, Barone transitioned into a self-publishing model for all platforms, including consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), Nintendo Switch, and eventually mobile (iOS and Android). By 2022, Chucklefish's involvement had fully ceased, leaving ConcernedApe as both the developer and the ultimate owner and publisher of the franchise. The game continues to receive significant free content updates and has expanded into other media, including a successful board game and orchestral concert tours.