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Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) said in a 2026 anniversary interview that a secret message in the game had never been found. He described it as referring to something that stopped being true after he changed direction during development. Barone did not reveal the message or where to look, and the available reporting does not establish whether anyone has found it since.
What secret did Eric Barone say was still hidden?
In an interview with IGN for Stardew Valley’s 10th anniversary, Barone said, “There’s still a secret that no one has ever found. I don’t think they ever will,” according to PC Gamer’s February 4, 2026 report. He explained that it was a secret message revealing something that was no longer true after he changed direction during development. He did not say what the message reveals or identify its location. PC Gamer’s report
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Stardew Valley (Nintendo Switch) | $33.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![Stardew Valley [Nintendo Switch - Standard Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61q+3LXDcGL._SL160_.jpg)
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Stardew Valley [Nintendo Switch - Standard Edition] | $32.69 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5169YeVCjKL._SL160_.jpg)
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Stardew Valley - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code] | $14.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
Barone’s words are an attributed account of what he said, not an independent census confirming that no player had found the message. The report does not establish whether his assessment has changed since the interview.
Could datamining uncover it?
Barone’s clue was about how a secret might be hidden, not where this particular one is. He said a message concealed in artwork could be harder to discover through datamining: “If you, say, hide it in the art or something—if it’s a secret message that’s hidden in the artwork somehow—then people can’t really discover that as easily. They have to see it.”
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That makes visual inspection a plausible avenue to consider, but it does not confirm that the message is in artwork, or in any specific image, screen, or game asset. The interview report gives no confirmed location or search instructions.
Has anyone found it since the interview?
The available sources do not resolve that question. PC Gamer reported Barone’s statement on February 4, 2026; it does not confirm the secret’s status after that date. Barone also said, “I feel like no one will ever find it,” while adding that he hoped someone would, because it would be interesting.
The Stardew Valley Wiki’s community-maintained Secrets page catalogs many known secrets and recalls an earlier remark by Barone during the first Stardew Valley Cup live event that he did not think anyone had found one secret. That history is useful context, but the page does not identify the message discussed in the 2026 interview or show that it has been solved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the anniversary matters—and what it doesn’t prove
Stardew Valley marked 10 years since its February 26, 2016 launch on February 26, 2026. In his official anniversary post, Barone said the game had sold 50 million copies and that a new update was in development. Those details provide context for the anniversary, but they are not evidence about the secret’s location or whether it has been found. The post did not give an update release date.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Rank #3
- You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life.
- Now with Multiplayer! Invite 1-3 players to join you in the valley! Players can work together to build a thriving farm, share resources, and build relationships with townspeople or each other.
- New Single Player Content! Including the new Winter Market Festival, more collectibles, added character cut-scenes and even hats for your horse!
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