Hey FlashShifter, thank you for doing this interview with us! Would you mind introducing yourself for people who may not be familiar with you or your mods?
Hello, thanks for having me! My name is Devin Hedegaard, though everyone knows me as FlashShifter. I’m the creator of Stardew Valley Expanded (SVE), a large fan-made expansion mod for ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley. I’ve been developing and updating my project in this modding community for six years now. I just recently released a major update for my mod that fulfills my vision for expanding the game. Last year, I was hired by ConcernedApe, and I helped develop the official 1.6 update for Stardew Valley. Working on my favorite game in the world has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
Could you tell us a little bit more about your work with ConcernedApe and the 1.6 update?
It's pretty wild to think that ConcernedApe and I both lived in Seattle, Washington for years, and I worked on my mod all that time without ever reaching out to him. I always assumed he was the kind of person who handled everything on his own, so I didn’t think he’d need someone like me. But when my car got stolen and I hit some financial trouble, I had to find a job to cover the costs of a new one. I took a chance and asked ConcernedApe for work, and he hired me. Looking back, it feels like everything unfolded exactly how it was meant to. As for what I contributed to the Stardew Valley 1.6 update, that’s staying a secret and I prefer it that way. I don't think it's necessary to divide credit over who did what. My work at ConcernedApe LLC will also stay under wraps for now!
Can you tell us about your gaming history? What first got you into gaming and any favourite games?
Since I was a kid, I've had a deep love for video games. They've always been a huge part of my life and still are. I vividly remember coming home from school when I was in the 1st grade, immediately firing up my Nintendo 64, and diving into games like Super Mario, Star Fox, and BattleTanx. There’s something magical about being transported into a different world and taking on a new persona. In college, I got into competitive gaming, playing titles like Super Smash Brothers Melee, Starcraft II, and at a later time Star Wars Squadrons. Though I stepped away from the competitive scene years ago, my passion for games remains. I enjoy a wide range of titles, from Elden Ring to Earthbound, but none have captured me quite like Stardew Valley. Even after creating content in this community for many years and logging tens of thousands of hours, I’m still not burned out.
What is it that drew you to Stardew Valley in particular?
Harvest Moon had a big impact on my childhood. I recall staying up late past my bedtime, playing Friends of Mineral Town on my Game Boy Advance and A Wonderful Life on the Nintendo GameCube. The idea of moving to a cozy town, making friends with the villagers, caring for animals, growing crops, and watching the seasons change all while being part of a close-knit community was mesmerizing to me. It was such an easy game to escape into and get lost in, though I always felt it had the potential for more. Sadly, the later Harvest Moon titles didn’t capture my interest the same way. Then, Stardew Valley came along and reignited my love for the farming genre. From the charming residents of Pelican Town to the monster-infested Skull Cavern… It hooked me in a way no other game ever has.
To follow on from that, how did you first get into modding for Stardew Valley? What inspired you to create such an expansive overhaul with Stardew Valley Expanded?
I religiously played Stardew Valley on my Nintendo Switch after I graduated from Western Washington University in 2017. After putting in countless hours over months of playing, I discovered there was a rather sizable modding community on Nexus Mods. I installed over 100 mods and sunk hundreds of more hours into Stardew Valley on PC. Even after everything… I still craved more. But it didn’t exist. So, I started to learn how to mod the game. I taught myself how to code, script, draw pixel art, make music, design maps, write character stories, etc. I set out to simply have fun modding for the first time in my life, not knowing exactly where it would eventually take me.
What were your goals for expanding the world? Any particular parts of the original game that you really wanted to enhance or change?
Back in 2018, when I first began developing my mod, my initial goal was simple: to add a few new maps, redesign most existing vanilla areas, and create a unique character event for each NPC. Fast forward to today, and SVE has grown in every way imaginable from introducing new characters, questlines, farm buildings, trees, fish, animals, crops, weapons, furniture, music, and so much more. I never stopped working on it, constantly learning and refining my skills. I wanted to become a better mod developer to realize my dreams even further. There wasn't a specific aspect of Stardew Valley I wanted to improve or change. I thought the base game was perfect as it was. I just wanted more of everything - more content to enjoy and to share with the entire community. To give the love back that this game gave to me when I first played it.
Your mod adds a lot of new content to the game, from characters to locations. But were there any features or storylines that were challenging to develop?
I struggled with pixel art for years, finding it difficult to capture the unique charm of ConcernedApe's style. Matching that aesthetic was a real challenge. But I kept at it, drawing and practicing continuously. It's the same with getting better at anything. You have to put in a lot of time and dedication. Learning to code and script was another challenge for me. With a background in accounting rather than computer science, it required a completely different way of thinking. But driven by my passion to bring my ideas to life, I pushed through. The extensive documentation available for modders in the Stardew Valley community is a huge help. A lot of credit goes to the SMAPI developer, PathosChild. His guides and frameworks are invaluable, and without them, my mod might not have come together at all.
Do you have a favourite character from Stardew Valley Expanded?
My favorite group of new NPCs in my mod are the original five: Victor, Olivia, Sophia, Andy, and Susan. Victor and Olivia are a mother and son living in Pelican Town, while Sophia, Andy, and Susan are fellow farmers with their own plots of farmland in the valley. When SVE first introduced new characters, it was only supposed to be these five. I liked the idea that the player wasn’t the only farmer in the valley, but instead shared the region with others who had already established themselves. And, of course, I enjoyed adding new residents to the town to fill it out a little bit more. I didn’t want to overwhelm the player with too many NPCs to socialize with, though. Even with the full roster SVE adds now, I think it’s balanced since the new characters are gradually introduced as the player progresses and unlocks them naturally throughout the game.
Are there any current projects you’re working on we could get a sneak peek at?
I’m working on "Castle Village", which is an entirely new mod. It was originally supposed to be included in the Stardew Valley Expanded 2.0 update, but I recently decided it was best to split it off. This project is even more ambitious than SVE, featuring a new city, dozens of fully developed NPCs, dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda, boss monsters, magical artifacts, new music, and much more. A big focus of this update is on monster combat. I’m designing unique sprites for everything in this region to give it a distinct feel, different from the architecture of Stardew Valley. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I’m really happy with the progress so far. I don’t have an ETA for when this massive project will be completed, but here are a few sneak peeks of what players can look forward to in Castle Village:
ConcernedApe’s upcoming game Haunted Chocolatier seems to have a different vibe compared to Stardew Valley. What are your thoughts on the shift to a spookier theme?
No upcoming game excites me more than ConcernedApe's Haunted Chocolatier. The concept is unlike anything I've encountered before, and I can already sense it’s a world I’ll easily lose myself in for hundreds of hours. I love the eerie atmosphere and the moody theme the game has from what I've seen from the teasers so far. I’m eager to see what ConcernedApe creates, drawing on the skills he’s honed over 12 years of developing Stardew Valley.
Do you have any plans to create mods for Haunted Chocolatier once it’s released? If so, what do you think you’d make?
I won’t be making mods for Haunted Chocolatier. My attention is drawn towards my work at ConcernedApe LLC and developing Castle Village.
How do you think the new game will resonate with Stardew Valley fans? Do you think it’ll appeal to the same audience, or that new types of players might be drawn to it?
From the teaser images and trailer, Haunted Chocolatier feels a lot like Stardew Valley but set in a different universe with distinct underlying tones. I’m confident it will attract the same general audience while also drawing in new players. With its focus on combat rather than farming, I actually welcome the shift. It really seems like it’s going to be a fresh, exciting adventure to explore, and I am eagerly counting down the days until it’s finished.
Finally, any last words for the community?
I want to thank the Nexus Mods community, from the administrators who built this amazing platform where I host my mod, to the players who download and enjoy the mods. I wouldn't be where I am today without this community, and I wouldn’t have had the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a game developer. It’s absolutely possible to dive into modding without any prior experience and still make it. I didn’t study anything related to game development, but I didn’t let that stop me from turning my dreams into reality. If you have the passion and determination, you can create anything you set your mind to.
Thanks once again to FlashShifter for catching up with me. As always, if you have any recommendations for future mod author interviews, send them my way or drop them in the comments below!
3 comments
What stands out even more is the humility behind it all. Rather than seeking attention or glory, FlashShifter has remained focused on creating something beautiful, letting the work speak for itself. A moment of hardship turned into an incredible opportunity, and the results have been nothing short of amazing. Huge thanks to FlashShifter for sharing their story, and to the Nexus Mods community team for making this fantastic interview possible!
Hype for Castle Village!