Starsand Island News

[p][/p][p]We are pleased to announce that Starsand Island will officially launch in Early Access on February 11, 2026 on Steam.[/p][p]After a long period of development and preparation, we are excited to invite players to begin their journey on Starsand Island and experience a relaxing island life filled with farming, exploration, crafting, and social interaction.[/p][h3]Early Access Editions[/h3][p]Standard Edition – Early Access Price: USD 27.93[/p][p](Original Price: USD 39.90)[/p][p]Includes:[/p][p]• Base Game[/p][p]• Chinese New Year Furniture Set[/p][p]• Neo-Chinese Outfit[/p][p]Deluxe Edition – Early Access Price: USD 41.93[/p][p](Original Price: USD 59.90)[/p][p]Includes everything in the Standard Edition, plus:[/p][p]• Classical Furniture Set[/p][p]• Elegant Formal Outfit[/p][p]• Pumpkin Carriage[/p][p][/p][h3]Release Date[/h3][p]Release Time: February 11, 2026, 09:00 AM (PST)[/p][p][/p][h3]Additional Information[/h3][p]Add the game to your wishlist:[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]Join our official Discord server for news and community updates:[/p][p][/p][p]http://discord.gg/JYtmavCnxP[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]The Release Date Announcement Trailer is available below.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p]We sincerely thank all players for your continued support and look forward to welcoming you to Starsand Island.[/p]

Though it may seem like we just had a big life sim release in Heartopia, 2026 actually has more than one highly-anticipated release in that particular subgenre of cozy game. The next big one on the horizon is Starsand Island, the life and farming sim from Seed Sparkle Lab.

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[p]We're Seed Sparkle Lab, creators of Starsand Island.[/p][p]First off, thank you for the incredible support since our very first trailer. Your feedback and enthusiasm have helped the project take shape, expand, and improve since day one. You're the reason Starsand Island came to life, and the reason we keep pushing forward.[/p][p]After months of fine-tuning following the Steam Next Fest demo, we're thrilled to present the Early Access (EA) version! Here's a quick look at what's new and improved:[/p][hr][/hr][h3]I. World & Seasonal System Enhancements[/h3][p]Beyond day and night, we've introduced a four-season system: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.[/p][p]Each season now brings its own distinct scenery, atmosphere, and seasonal activities, making the world feel even more alive and immersive.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]II. Deepened Core Gameplay Systems[/h3][p]All profession paths have been expanded from the "beginner" stage into full-fledged "expert" tiers, greatly enhancing both depth and breadth of gameplay.[/p]

• [p]Farming: Nearly 100 types of crops can now be cultivated. Discover the brand-new hybridization feature to breed unique blossoms of your own. In late-game progression, you'll unlock greenhouses, allowing year-round cultivation of rare crops unrestricted by season.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Crafting: Added multiple special machines and advanced tools to streamline labor. As your settlement advances, you can achieve automated mining, logging, and farming, freeing your hands for creativity and exploration.[/p][p][/p]
• [p]Ranching: Beyond basic poultry, you can now raise over 10 new species, including cows, alpacas, and more. Discover more than 40 subspecies and color variants, plus 10+ professional tools and facilities to enrich your ranching experience and realism.[/p][p][/p]

• [p]Fishing: A new Fish Trap system complements existing angling and aquaculture features. You can now collect 100+ aquatic creatures, including rare “King Fish” species from various habitats, such as Arapaima, Long-barbeled Dragonfish, and the King Glowfish.[/p][p][/p]

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• [p]Exploration: The arsenal has been upgraded! Added bows, along with multiple arrow types, each imbued with distinct effects to enhance impact and combat feel.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][h3]III. More Characters, Deeper Bonds[/h3]

• [p]NPCs: The roster of interactable NPCs has grown to 15, with 4 new companions you can forge close relationships with. Each NPC has unique personality traits and a profession that reflects their character.[/p][p][/p][p][/p]
• [p]Voice Acting: We've brought in top-tier voice talent from around the world. Reaching max Affection unlocks exclusive storylines with full voice-overs, while daily dialogues now feature expressive, personality-filled voice lines, bringing the island to life.[/p]

[h3]IV. A Bigger Home, and More to See[/h3][p]All nine subplots of your homestead can now be unlocked! We've also added three new home environments: Blue Beach, Cloudrest Lake (Bamboo Forest), and Windflute Island (Private Island).[/p][p]To fill your expanded home, we've added 300+ furniture pieces and hundreds of decorative items, everything you need to create your perfect island getaway.[/p][p][/p]

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[h3]V. New Ways to Play: A Fuller Pastoral Life[/h3]

• [p]Mounts & Vehicles: Over 40 rideable items now available, including 10+ craftable vehicles, various water and air mounts, and 20+ rideable animal companions. Most vehicles support modifications such as jets and wheel upgrades.[/p]

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• [p]Customization: More freedom than ever! Outfits are now fully modular. Mix and match hats, hairstyles, and accessories as you wish. An infinite color wheel lets you personalize hair, eyes, and skin tones for a truly one-of-a-kind look.[/p][p][/p]

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• [p]Cooking: Recipes expanded to 50+ dishes, most offering fun and practical buffs to spice up both your meals and gameplay.[/p]

[p][/p][h3]VI. World Expansion: New Zones, New Rhythm, New Celebrations[/h3][p]Map Expansion: The Moonlit  Forest now opens up with 12 new camps and 3 epic bosses—each brimming with unique style and challenge.[/p][p]New Gameplay:[/p]

• [p]Music Performance: Pick up your instrument and follow in-game sheet music to play beautiful tunes.[/p]
• [p]Festivals: Celebrate together in two new seasonal events, the joyful Chinese New Year and the lively Summer Beach Festival![/p][p][/p]

[p][/p][hr][/hr][p]That wraps up the Early Access update. EA pricing will be announced on February 2nd. We know there's still lots to polish and expand, and we're already working hard on what's next. The full release in Summer 2026 will bring multiplayer, dating, and even more ways to enjoy island life. We hope Starsand Island continues to bring you moments of pure, heart-warming joy.[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]As the seasons change, we have exciting news to share with you:[/p][p]Starsand Island has hit 500,000 wishlists on Steam! 🎉[/p][p]Development has entered its final stage, and the journey will begin very soon.[/p][p]Thank you for walking through every season with us! 🌿🌸🍂❄️ We can't wait to welcome you to the island. ⛵✨[/p][p][/p][p]💌 Haven't added it yet? Add Starsand Island to your wishlist:[/p][p][/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p]💡Join our official Discord to get the latest updates:[/p][p][/p][p]Discord：https://discord.gg/XW63928c65[/p]

[p][/p][p]Fix[/p]

• [p]Fixed the issue where unlocking Blueprints would occur abnormally after loading a save.[/p]

[p][/p][p]To all our amazing Islanders :[/p][p]Your love and support are the ultimate power-up for our team! We're committed to making Starsand Island the best it can be, and we'll keep on upgrading![/p][p]Found a quirky bug? Had a brilliant idea pop into your head? Don't be shy! Hop into our official Discord and chat directly with the devs! We've got our stools ready and waiting for you![/p][p][/p][p]https://discord.gg/XW63928c65[/p][p][/p]