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PC Gamer
PC Gamer
Elie Gould

Stardew Valley doesn't have any microtransactions because Eric Barone values the player 'more than the money I could squeeze out of everyone'

Stardew Valley screenshot next to Eric Barone .

Stardew Valley celebrated its 10 year anniversary earlier this year, and after over a decade of supplying fans with feel good farming its creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone has reflected over what keeps him happy and why the sim stays so affordable.

"I just genuinely value the love of the players more than the money that I could squeeze out of everyone," Barone says in an interview with GameInformer. "I just know that that would not bring me as much happiness as being beloved by the community. So it’s like, to me, it’s kind of a no-brainer. You might even call it selfish, because I’m really doing what is going to make me the happiest. You know, you can either chase the dollar or you can chase the respect and admiration of the community. And [chasing the community] is just what I prefer. That makes me feel better than having money."

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