Stardew Valley Creator Gets Crucified for Wholesome Crossover He Did for Free

In a move that should have been universally celebrated as a cute, harmless bit of fun, Stardew Valley is officially lending its rustic charm to the free-to-play fashion game Infinity Nikki. But because this is the internet, a place where joy goes to die, the announcement was met with the kind of indignant rage usually reserved for nerfed shotguns and bad season passes.

Apparently, some corners of the Infinity Nikki fanbase saw this free crossover not as a gift, but as a calculated distraction. They've been stewing over recent in-game updates and the developer's handling of leaks, and decided this wholesome farming event was the perfect target for their collective fury. God forbid a developer tries to give you something for free while they work on other shit.

Image Credit: Stardew Valley

ConcernedApe Just Thought It Was Neat

Dragged into the digital crossfire, Stardew Valley’s solo creator, Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone, had to hop on Twitter to explain that, no, he didn't sell out his indie darling to the gacha gods. In fact, he didn't make a damn cent from the deal.

He explained that he only ever agrees to these collaborations if he’s a fan of the other game or, in his words, he “genuinely thought the players would like it.” He literally just allowed the crossover to happen because he thought it was a cool idea. The man just wanted to share the love, and in return, he got a face full of unhinged gamer rage. Welcome to 2025.

The Corporate "Love Letter"

Following Barone’s attempt to calm the mob, Infinity Nikki developer InFold chimed in with their own statement, thanking him and spinning the event as a "free love letter to Stardew Valley." They claimed the whole thing was just a way of saying thanks, a sentiment that was promptly thrown back in their faces by players who, shockingly, still wanted the game's actual problems addressed instead of receiving a thank-you card.

So, What Now?

Despite the bizarre firestorm, the free crossover is still scheduled to drop on September 1, 2025. It’s a perfect little snapshot of the modern gaming landscape: a beloved indie creator does something nice for nothing, and a vocal minority of another game's community loses their collective minds. Meanwhile, the rest of us are just left wondering what the hell is in the crossover.