Frustrated with his job prospects and inspired by the Harvest Moon series, Eric Barone begins working on Stardew Valley as a personal project to improve his programming skills and create a game he wanted to play. He aims to address the shortcomings he perceived in the Harvest Moon series.

Barone dedicates himself to solo development, handling all aspects of the game, including programming, art, music, and writing. He invests countless hours honing his skills and building the game's intricate world.

Stardew Valley is placed on Steam Greenlight, where the community votes on which games should be sold on the platform. The game is successfully greenlit, generating significant anticipation.

Stardew Valley is officially released on PC to widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It quickly becomes a viral sensation, praised for its charming gameplay, depth, and heartfelt themes.

Following the initial release, Eric Barone continues to support Stardew Valley with regular updates, adding new content, features, and improvements based on player feedback. These updates help maintain the game's popularity and longevity.