By Nathan Walters
Skip to main content
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+
GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Search GamesRadar+
View Profile
Xbox Series X
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
Tabletop Gaming
Toys & Collectibles
Retro Gamer
Newsletters
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
Subscribe from just £3
Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
Try a single issue or save on a subscription
Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From£9.99View
Summer Game Fest
New games for 2025
Upcoming Switch 2 games
Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Adventure Games
Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first
Simulation Games
Eric Barone is “committed to not working on Stardew Valley until I’m done with Haunted Chocolatier,” but he’ll “never say” he’s completely done with his magnum opus
Adventure Games
OG Hytale founder confirms he “will reach out” to Riot Games about buying back the Minecraft rival: “The chances of revival are next to impossible… It’s the least I can do”
Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone “started off having no ambitions” for the farming RPG’s success, and he was afraid even Harvest Moon fans “would probably hate it”
Simulation Games
“I might eventually make a Stardew Valley 2,” says Eric Barone, but “I just don’t care about money” and it’s “so much easier” to update the original
Hytale’s original dev wants to buy it back from Riot, but “a lot of content would be cut early on” to release it as quickly as possible
Simulation Games
It’s “more of an action RPG,” but Eric Barone says Haunted Chocolatier is still “a life sim” and “similar to Stardew Valley in many ways” but with more “dark and mysterious” vibes
Adventure Games
Saving Hytale isn’t something Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe is “thinking about too much” thanks to Haunted Chocolatier, but “If something were presented to me, I would be open to entertaining the idea”
Nathan Walters
1 July 2025
Eric Barone isn’t saving Hytale, but he’s not ruling it out either
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Riot Games)
After a recent surge in excitemnet about whether Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, might step in to save Hytale, Barone himself has spoken up again to set the record straight: He’s not actively chasing down a Hytale revival, but he’s also not completely shutting the door in case something ever did land in his inbox.
“I’m not actively doing anything to make this happen,” Barone tells PCGamer, putting the brakes on the rumours before they can pick up too much speed. “If something were presented to me, I would be open to entertaining the idea, that’s all.”
He adds, “It’s not something I am thinking about too much since I’m focused on working on my next game.” That game, of course, is Haunted Chocolatier, which seems to be taking up pretty much all of this attention these days (understandably).
You may like
Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first
Eric Barone is “committed to not working on Stardew Valley until I’m done with Haunted Chocolatier,” but he’ll “never say” he’s completely done with his magnum opus
OG Hytale founder confirms he “will reach out” to Riot Games about buying back the Minecraft rival: “The chances of revival are next to impossible… It’s the least I can do”
It’s easy to see why people got excited about the idea, though. When news hit that Hytale was cancelled, there was a wave of disappointment from Minecraft and Stardew fans alike. That’s why heads turned when Barone initially said he could “possibly” step in to save Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first.
So, in short, Eric Barone isn’t plotting a Hytale rescue. He’s focused on being digital Willy Wonka and satisfying sweet-toothed gamers with his own game. And while he’s not totally ruling out the idea, and it’s fun to imagine the Stardew Valley creator lending his magical touch to Hytale, it sounds like this one rumour we can let go of for now. Wishful thinking, I suppose.
6 years after an announcement trailer with 61 million views, Minecraft-inspired survival game Hytale is cancelled, and its developer is shutting down
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
See more PC Gaming News
Nathan Walters
Contributor
Nathan Walters originally joined Future in February 2022 as a deals writer and is based in Cardiff, Wales. He has covered topics such as graphics cards, mobile phones, and game consoles for sites like TechRadar, TomsGuide, and Tom’s Hardware. He has also written money-saving advice for multiple publications such as Moneynet, NationalWorld, iPaper, Pick Me Up! And My Weekly. Nathan is an avid video game and tabletop player who loves writing, and in his spare time, you can find him playing D&D, grinding in Guild Wars 2 or writing reviews on his website GameReport.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first
Eric Barone is “committed to not working on Stardew Valley until I’m done with Haunted Chocolatier,” but he’ll “never say” he’s completely done with his magnum opus
OG Hytale founder confirms he “will reach out” to Riot Games about buying back the Minecraft rival: “The chances of revival are next to impossible… It’s the least I can do”
Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone “started off having no ambitions” for the farming RPG’s success, and he was afraid even Harvest Moon fans “would probably hate it”
“I might eventually make a Stardew Valley 2,” says Eric Barone, but “I just don’t care about money” and it’s “so much easier” to update the original
Hytale’s original dev wants to buy it back from Riot, but “a lot of content would be cut early on” to release it as quickly as possible
Latest in Adventure Games
Pokemon’s hardest challenge has finally been completed after 15 months and “easily over 100k” collective attempts, and it took an absolute monster Crobat to do it
New Switch 2 game comes from the developer of some absolute DS classics, is designed for “adult women,” and is doing something genuinely exciting for visual novels
OG Hytale founder confirms he “will reach out” to Riot Games about buying back the Minecraft rival: “The chances of revival are next to impossible… It’s the least I can do”
Stardew Valley’s ConcernedApe reportedly says he could “possibly” step in to save cancelled Minecraft-like Hytale, but he’d need to know “why it failed” first
How to complete GTA Online Safeguard deliveries
The best new game I’ve played all year is a 30-minute demo where I just climbed rocks and ate chocolate bars – and I still care about it more than Borderlands 4 and GTA 6 combined
Latest in News
Hytale’s original dev wants to buy it back from Riot, but “a lot of content would be cut early on” to release it as quickly as possible
Hideo Kojima says he “kind of hates” the AI assistant in his phone, which is why Death Stranding 2’s message is that people shouldn’t just rely on technology
M3GAN 3 looks unlikely after new sequel M3GAN 2.0 malfunctions at box office
Asus gave my favorite gaming keyboard a makeover, and I’m 90% happy with the result
GTA veteran says game releases seem “more stressful” now than during the PS2 era, because “not knowing whether you can fix everything in the day-1 patch seems terrifying”
New Fantastic Four concept art post unveils our best look yet at the Baxter Building – and Marvel fans think they might prefer it to the comic version
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: “This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse”
Rematch review: “As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic”
Tron: Catalyst review: “Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I’m let down by a time-loop story that falls flat”
FBC: Firebreak review: “A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that’s missing far too much of what made Control special”
Dune: Awakening review: “Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter”
Jurassic World Rebirth Review: “An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber”
M3GAN 2.0 review: “A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion”
28 Years Later Review: “Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
Predator: Killer of Killers review: “Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation”
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: “Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu”
Squid Game season 3 review: “A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever”
Ironheart review: “A relic of Marvel’s content-at-all-costs era”
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: “The show’s most assured run of episodes to date”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: ‘The Reality War’ is “a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling”
Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: ‘Wish World’ is “an exciting and ambitious” start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…