Game developer Eric Barone just threw down a major show of support for MonoGame—the open-source framework powering Stardew Valley. He's putting his money where his mouth is with a $125,000 donation, and that's just the beginning. He's also committing to ongoing monthly contributions to keep the project moving forward.

This kind of move matters. Open-source frameworks are the backbone of indie game development, and when creators like Barone step up to fund them directly, it signals something real about how much these tools matter to the ecosystem. It's not just about one game—it's about building infrastructure that thousands of developers can build on.

The decision reflects a growing trend: successful indie devs recognizing their responsibility to the tools and communities that helped them reach that success. MonoGame now has institutional backing from someone who's proven they understand what it takes to build something that lasts.