Here’s a look at Stardew Valley’s original concept. The 13 year old trailer shows just how much the game has changed

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Almost four years have passed since ConcernedApe initially unveiled Haunted Chocolatier, but it’s likely he’s been working on it for significantly longer. It might still be quite some time before the game is completed. So far, he hasn’t revealed much about it, only giving occasional glimpses. Lately, we were treated to a brand new screenshot. For now, we can keep ourselves occupied in Stardew Valley. Interestingly, even though the game’s world has changed significantly from its initial concept, just stopping to appreciate the scenery reminds us of that fact.

A lok back at Stardew Valley’s earliest days

Back when I was just a starry-eyed gamer, about four years before the enchanting world of Stardew Valley officially bloomed, its very first trailer graced the screens of YouTube. It’s a forgotten gem now, perhaps never noticed by many or simply lost in the vast ocean of videos. But for those who appreciate the journey as much as the destination, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to what Stardew Valley looked like before its grand debut. Harvest Moon (1996) was the melody that set the tone for this captivating symphony yet to come.

From the very moment I stepped in, it was evident that things were distinctly different back then. The colors, the music, even the smallest details like structures, rocks, and scraps of wood – each element seemed meticulously crafted. ConcernedApe painstakingly revamped almost every asset before the game’s release. He went as far as redrawing all character portraits, pixel by pixel. Haley, Maru, Sam – they all appeared completely transformed compared to what we see today.

One notable aspect I found was the presence of a workshop bench within the farmhouse. However, at some stage, CA decided against this concept and allowed us to create items directly from the menu instead. Yet, the distinctive chicken sound effect remains unchanged.

A little while later, he shared another brief video, approximately 30 seconds long, featuring the felling of a tree. This particular clip seems considerably more akin to the Stardew Valley we are familiar with now.

It’s clear now that Shane was modeled after someone who used to work at JojaMart. Given that the video was published in 2011, it could have been created before Stardew Valley development even began.

It’s intriguing to ponder if he had any idea back then that his magnum opus was merely a few years away and would still occupy him for a decade. As it turns out, another version of SV is in development, despite his initial plan to pause work on it to concentrate on Haunted Chocolatier. But then again, that’s just how unpredictable Creative Assembly can be – you never really know what they’ll come up with next.

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2025-09-10 13:02