Starsand Island launches in Early Access for Xbox Series and PC on February 11; full release this summer

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The anime-inspired farming and life simulation game, Starsand Island, will first be available in Early Access on PC through Steam and as a Game Preview on Xbox Series and PC via the Microsoft Store on February 11th. The full game is then planned to launch this summer on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC. This is a shift from the original plan of releasing the full game on February 1st, as announced by developer Seed Sparkle Lab.

Seed Sparkle Lab says they’ll use the Early Access phase to finish up the game’s content and polish the late-game experience before the official launch. The multiplayer feature won’t be ready until the full game is released.

Here are the details:

Early Access Editions

At the start of Early Access, Starsand Island will be offered in two editions.

  • Standard Edition – Includes the base game and all Early Access content. Players who purchase during the launch period will also receive an exclusive Chinese New Year bonus, featuring festive outfits inspired by traditional Chinese patterns and furniture. This bonus includes rich decorative details that highlight the elegance and charm of Chinese design.
  • Deluxe Edition – For those seeking more customization options, this includes everything found in the Standard Edition, alongside additional content inspired by Romanticism. This edition features refined, classical outfits and fantasy-inspired furniture, offering a more decorative and expressive island life experience from the very beginning.

The team behind Starsand Island wants to make sure players know that Early Access is a really important time for the game. They’re planning to work closely with the community, using player feedback to improve the game’s stability, add more content, and polish the peaceful, nature-focused world they’re building. Ultimately, how Starsand Island evolves will be directly influenced by the players themselves.

Core Gameplay Features

When Starsand Island enters Early Access, players will get to try out the core features of the game, designed to be a calming, creative, and heartfelt experience. The developers say this version will include the majority of the game’s content, with over 100 hours of things to do. You’ll be able to enjoy key activities like raising animals, growing crops, exploring the world, fishing, and crafting – all adding up to a full and detailed life simulation.

  • Storybook-Inspired Visuals – The game’s fairytale-inspired art style uses soft lighting and detailed environments to create a calming, cohesive world filled with charm.
  • NPC Relationships and Narratives – Interact with a diverse cast of island residents, each with unique personalities and storylines. Build relationships through daily interactions to unlock character-driven progression and narrative content.
  • Highly Customizable Building and Crafting System – Enjoy flexible building tools to design and customize homes and environments. The system supports a wide range of creative and functional builds, giving players the freedom to express themselves.
  • Animal Companions – Adopt and care for adorable animal companions that grow alongside the player. These loyal friends respond to interactions and enrich everyday life on the island.
  • Music Gameplay – Play instruments with simple, accessible mechanics, either freely or along with in-game scores. Music adds a relaxing, creative layer to the island experience.
  • Cultural Dance Actions – Perform dances inspired by various cultures, with solo and paired options. Celebrate, connect, and share joyful moments through expressive movements under the stars.
  • Crossover Content – Building on collaborations with My Time at Portia and the recreation of Yueyang Tower, the Early Access version will introduce additional collaboration characters and further expand the island’s world.

These elements are the core of the life simulation in Starsand Island, and the game will improve and expand based on what players think during its Early Access period.

Our team is working hard to launch the complete game on all major platforms – Steam, Xbox, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and macOS – so players everywhere can enjoy the full island experience. As a small independent studio, we’re passionate about building a cozy and relatable world based on everyday life. We plan to work closely with our community, both during Early Access and after launch, to improve the game and create the best possible island adventure together.

Watch a new trailer below.

Early Access Release Date Trailer

English

Japanese

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2026-02-02 16:02