The creator of the wildly popular farming game Stardew Valley made a lifelong promise to his huge fanbase recently. Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, who programmed the game himself, swore he’d never charge money for new downloadable content or updates. He said this on the social media site X, telling fans that as long as he’s alive, any new stuff added to Stardew Valley will be absolutely free.
Barone’s promise comes as fans wait excitedly for the next big update to the game. Update version 1.6 is finished for PC already, but taking extra time to get ready for consoles and smartphones. While the delay is a bummer for non-PC players, most fans are being understanding since quality is more important than rushing things out.
This developer’s dedication to giving players more for no cost is super rare these days. It seems like every game has some sort of paid add-ons or microtransactions nowadays. But not Stardew Valley – Eric’s kept it completely free of charge since launching years ago. Fans really appreciate that he puts their enjoyment over trying to make more money.
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. Screencap this and shame me if I ever violate this oath
— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) July 22, 2024
Barone promised to share release date news for 1.6 on consoles and phones as soon as possible. In the meantime, he’s been hard at work porting the update himself each day. The new patch will offer all sorts of additional content like new festivals, farm types, and quality-of-life fixes. While the wait goes on, most players express support for ConcernedApe taking his time to do it right.
By keeping updates and expansions gratis, Stardew Valley remains very accessible. Eric Barone’s commitment to his fans sets an awesome example in the gaming industry. Those waiting for 1.6 on their platforms can feel good knowing whatever arrives will be well worth the wait, and cost them nothing at all to enjoy.
