Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has disclosed that he doesn't accept payment for crossover collaborations featuring his beloved farming simulator. He explained these partnerships happen solely because "I was a fan of the other games, or because I genuinely believed players would enjoy it."
This revelation comes as the community anticipates a September 1 crossover event between Stardew Valley and Infinity Nikki. While specific details remain unknown, the announcement has sparked mixed reactions, with some players criticizing the timing as a potential distraction from recent leak-related controversies.
"There have been several Stardew Valley crossovers over the years," Barone stated on X/Twitter recently. "For clarity, I never receive financial compensation for these collaborations. I only pursue them when I personally enjoy the other game or believe our players would appreciate the content."
The Infinity Nikki development team directly responded to Barone via their official X/Twitter account.
"We sincerely appreciate your transparency. Causing unintended stress was never our intention. This collaboration represents our heartfelt tribute - a free love letter to Stardew Valley from our entire team and its wonderful community," their message read.
"Collaborating felt like we were all nurturing a shared digital farm. Your dedication to world-building inspires our own cozy game development journey. Every day, we continue learning from your example."
The controversy appears largely timing-related. The Infinity Nikki community has expressed dissatisfaction since update 1.5 introduced contentious changes, including story retcons and increased time/monetary requirements for outfit collection.
Barone maintains selective criteria for collaborations. Beyond Infinity Nikki, Stardew Valley has only partnered with a select few titles like Balatro and Terraria.
Previously in May, Barone shared his desire to expand beyond being "just the Stardew Valley guy" - explaining his current focus on Haunted Chocolatier. However, he recently cautioned that development continues with "significant work remaining," emphasizing the new project must surpass Stardew Valley's quality.
