El creador de Stardew Valley, preocupado por el simio, no pide dinero por colaboraciones, afirma que solo trabaja con juegos que le gustan o porque "realmente pensó que a los jugadores les gustaría"

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Stardew Valley’s Creator Clarifies: No Money, Just Passion Behind the Infinity Nikki Crossover

In a heartfelt and transparent message, Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has reaffirmed that he receives no financial compensation from the game’s growing list of crossover collaborations—most recently, the much-anticipated partnership with Infinity Nikki, set to launch on September 1.

The announcement comes amid mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing skepticism over the timing of the collaboration, especially as Infinity Nikki has recently faced backlash for controversial changes introduced in Update 1.5, including revised story elements and increased time/cost requirements to complete full outfits.

Barone took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the growing chatter:

"There have been a few collaborations between Stardew Valley and other games over the years. To be clear, I never receive any money from these collabs. I've only done them because I was a fan of the other games, or because I genuinely thought players would enjoy them."

His words underscore a recurring theme in his career: a deep-rooted passion for game design and community connection, not profit.

The message landed with emotional resonance—and not just from fans. Infinity Nikki’s official X account responded directly, offering a touching acknowledgment:

"We really appreciate you sharing your feelings on this. Any unintended stress was the last thing we wanted. It was our way of saying thanks — a free love letter to Stardew Valley from our team and for the community.

Working on it felt like we were all tending a little farm together. The care and detail you pour into your world is exactly why we want to make cozy games too. We're still learning from you every day."

The sentiment struck a chord, highlighting a rare moment of cross-franchise respect in an often-cynical gaming landscape.

It's worth noting that Barone doesn’t frequently pursue crossovers. Stardew Valley has only partnered with a select few titles, including Balatro and Terraria, and each was driven by genuine admiration rather than commercial strategy.

In a recent interview in May, Barone also opened up about his desire to evolve beyond the Stardew Valley legacy. He’s currently developing Haunted Chocolatier, a new narrative-driven, cozy mystery game he says he’s committed to making "better" than Stardew Valley. Though he admitted there’s still "a lot to be done," he remains dedicated to crafting something that lives up to the emotional depth and craftsmanship fans have come to expect.

As the Infinity Nikki crossover approaches, Barone’s message serves as a powerful reminder: sometimes, the most meaningful collaborations aren’t driven by profit—but by love, respect, and shared creative spirit.

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