In a engaging interview, Eric Barone, the mastermind behind Stardew Valley, shared his recent ventures into the world of chess. He expressed an interest in improving his chess skills, stating:

“I’m not like a huge chess guy, it’s just always been something that I’ve wanted to be decent at.”

While discussing the challenges posed by AI in chess, Barone stated, “Who cares? I’m not interested in AI playing chess, I’m interested in humans playing chess.”

He also reflected on Elon Musk’s controversial remarks about chess potentially needing a tech tree. Barone mused:

“I actually think it could be interesting… What if someone did a Balatro treatment to chess, like where you’re basically playing a chess roguelike?”

In connection to Musk’s ideas, he suggested that such innovations could breathe new life into chess, making it more varied and exciting. The conversation highlighted Barone’s passion not just for gaming but specifically for how classic games like chess might evolve in the digital age.

For more details check out the interview here.