Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone announced earlier this month that he was parting ways with publisher Chucklefish and going it alone as a self-published indie. But it turns out that he's not really "going it alone" in the strictest sense at all. In fact, he's putting a team together to help him continue to work on Stardew Valley.

With the beloved Stardew Valley, Eric Barone discovered the alchemy of quiet gamemaking. All it took was nearly life-ruining levels of obsessiveness.

The game’s introduction generates a calming buildup to play. There’s a bit of magic that happens as the overture gets into full swing, and you see the familiar and charming logos of the game’s creators and publisher. The pixelated valley then sweeps across the screen. The game’s logo then slowly descends from the top of the screen, coming to a gentle halt that reveals the menu. You’re already in the embrace of Stardew Valley before you even begin to play. All of these sights and sounds do an incredible job of pulling you into the game’s “magic circle.”