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Overview
Starsand Island was developed by Seed Sparkle Lab, a Chinese studio. The game was announced in May 2024 and entered Early Access on February 11, 2026 after a successful Kickstarter campaign, multiple public demos, and appearances at international gaming events.
Timeline
2024
May 6, 2024: Initial announcement. Starsand Island is revealed with a debut trailer showing the island setting, farming mechanics, and Studio Ghibli-inspired art style.
Late 2024: Steam page goes live. The game begins accumulating wishlists, eventually surpassing 600,000.
2025
Item | Description |
|---|---|
April 29 – May 31, 2025 | Kickstarter campaign runs for 32 days. Raises $311,566 from 5,306 backers, 295% of the original $250,000 goal. All stretch goals met. |
September 2025 | Release date confirmed at Tokyo Game Show (TGS). Early Access set for February 2026. |
October 2025 | My Time at Portia crossover collaboration announced. Gust and Ginger confirmed as in-game characters with original voice actors returning. |
November 2025 | Gameplay trailer shown at WePlay Expo. Extended footage of farming, building, and character interactions. |
December 2025 | Combat and multiplayer trailer released. First look at Moonlit Forest bosses and cooperative gameplay planned for the 1.0 update. |
January 2026 | Playable Steam demo released. Players get hands-on experience with the first few in-game days, character creation, and basic professions. |
2026
February 11, 2026: Early Access launch on Steam and Xbox Preview. Available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
February 11-19, 2026: Five patches released in the first week (versions 0.2.0780 through 0.2.1185). See Update history for full patch notes.
Kickstarter campaign
The Kickstarter ran from April 29 to May 31, 2025. With an original goal of $250,000, it raised $311,566 from 5,306 backers approximately 295% of the target. The average pledge was about $59 per backer.
Reward tiers
Item | Description |
|---|---|
$20 | Thank-you acknowledgment, wallpapers, and a Steam key |
$25 | Five wallpapers and a Steam key |
$35 | Alpha test access via Steam |
$45 | Discord role, name in game credits, digital soundtrack |
$65 | Digital artbook, exclusive skateboard skin, exclusive in-game pet |
$100 | Exclusive character pose, animal ear outfit, pet outfit, furniture blueprint |
$5,000 | Become a romanceable NPC in the game. Includes an in-person day with the development team. |
$10,000 | Name a new Outer Island in the game world. |
Stretch goals
All stretch goals were reached during the campaign:
More in-depth character customization additional hairstyles, face options, and clothing
Flight vehicles aerial transport options added to the game
Hoverboard a personal vehicle for quick island traversal
Collaborations
Pathea Games: Cross-promotion with the My Time series. Gust and Ginger from My Time at Portia and Fang and Nia from My Time at Sandrock appear as in-game characters.
Rednote: March 2026 collaboration items available at Alex's Lex Woodworks shop.
Post-launch
Seed Sparkle Lab shipped five patches in the first eight days after launch, addressing crashes, quest blockers, and controller issues. The rapid patch cadence demonstrated the studio's commitment to Early Access support. See Update history for detailed patch notes and Post-launch roadmap for planned future content.
Related articles
Overview general game information
Reception and community reviews and community response
Post-launch roadmap planned features and timeline
Update history all patch notes since launch