Developer of former Stardew Valley game chooses not to incorporate a "stench weapon" into his latest life simulation project. Instead, he consents to enabling players to bother townsfolk with foul-smelling produce.
In the gaming world, excitement is building around the upcoming release of Sunkissed City, a new project from Arthur "Mr. Podunkian" Lee, a former developer of the beloved farming sim game, Stardew Valley.
Lee, who worked on Stardew Valley's 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 updates, is now hard at work on Sunkissed City. Set in a seaside metropolis, this life simulation game promises a unique blend of relationships, fishing, and farming.
One of the game's standout features is the inclusion of the Durian fruit, a notoriously pungent tropical fruit. In a Twitter post on August 4, 2025, Lee revealed that he had added Durian to the game, allowing players to cause a stink among the cityfolk.
The idea of using Durian as a form of playful mischief came from Lee's girlfriend. However, he decided against adding a "stink gun" as suggested, keeping the game's lighthearted nature intact.
Characters in the game are not fond of the Durian's smell, reacting negatively when players use it. But fear not, carbonara lovers, as the game also boasts farming sim elements that will surely delight.
Sunkissed City also features animals that produce various items, such as sheep milk usable for pecorino cheese. Lee has also announced plans to add a feature where animals move away from players holding stinky items, including Durian.
As for the game's release, while an exact date has not been set, it is expected to launch on Steam later this year. Fans of the genre are eagerly anticipating the game's release, with one suggesting that it would be funny if animals also reacted to the Durian. Lee responded positively to the idea, hinting at more Durian-related surprises in store.
In the video shared by Lee, the player character can be seen running into a cafe while holding a Durian, causing quite the scene. This addition, along with the game's promising life simulation elements, makes Sunkissed City a game worth watching for.
[1] Lee, A. (2025, August 4). Durian in Sunkissed City! [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/MrPodunkian/status/1420504743528857600 [2] Lee, A. (2025, August 5). Animals moving away from stinky items! [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/MrPodunkian/status/1420556729789758464
- Arthur "Mr. Podunkian" Lee, the former developer of Stardew Valley, is working on a new game called Sunkissed City, set for release on Steam later this year.
- Sunkissed City features a unique blend of relationships, fishing, farming, and life simulation elements that fans of the genre are eagerly anticipating.
- One standout feature of the game is the inclusion of the Durian fruit, a notoriously pungent tropical fruit, which causes characters in the game to react negatively when players use it.
- Arthur Lee revealed on Twitter that animals in Sunkissed City will also move away from players holding stinky items, including Durian.
- The inclusion of Durian as a form of playful mischief in Sunkissed City was inspired by Arthur Lee's girlfriend, and fans are excited to see what other Durian-related surprises the game has in store.
- Sunkissed City promises to be a game worth watching, with promising life simulation elements and a comical addition of Durian, as seen in a video shared by the developer.
