Eric Barone, known online as ConcernedApe, reflects on his humble lifestyle despite the massive success of his game “Stardew Valley,” which has sold over 30 million copies. In an interview with Aftermath, Barone downplays his achievements, stating, “I’m just a dude that made a game,” and credits the game’s success to tapping into a zeitgeist for different types of games.
Barone emphasizes that his daily life remains largely unchanged by his success. He maintains a hands-on approach to the game and community, spending most of his time working on updates, such as the extensive 1.6 patch, which included over 500 changes. Barone expresses a desire to create and share his work with the world, focusing on his passion for game development rather than monetary gain.
Barone is also eager to return to working on his next project, “Haunted Chocolatier,” but is currently focused on ensuring “Stardew Valley” update 1.6 is bug-free and available on all platforms.
