Kickstarter
Full breakdown of the Starsand Island Kickstarter campaign. Covers the $311,566 raised from 5,306 backers, all 9 stretch goals (Ocean Park, Roller Skates, Flight Vehicles, Hoverboard, Red Panda and Fox pets), reward tiers from $20 to $10,000, and how the campaign shaped the game's development.
Kickstarter
Starsand Island ran a Kickstarter campaign from April 29 to May 31, 2025 (32 days). The campaign raised $311,566 from 5,306 backers, reaching over 311% of the original $100,000 goal. Eight of nine stretch goals were unlocked during the campaign, with the ninth reached through late pledges. The average pledge was approximately $59 per backer.
The campaign was run by Seed Sparkle Lab, an independent studio headquartered in Zhuhai City, China. Creative Director Richardo Wang and Technical Director Golton Gao led the project. The Kickstarter was preceded by a debut at the Galaxies Gaming Showcase, which generated initial community interest.
Campaign Results
Detail | Value |
|---|---|
Original Goal | $100,000 |
Amount Raised | $311,566 (311% funded) |
Backers | 5,306 |
Duration | 32 days (April 29 to May 31, 2025) |
Average Pledge | ~$59 per backer |
Tracking sites recorded approximately $295,384 from 5,049 backers at campaign close. The higher final figure of $311,566 from 5,306 backers includes late pledges processed through BackerKit after the campaign ended.
Stretch Goals
Eight of the nine stretch goals were reached during the campaign, with the final $300,000 goal (flight vehicles and hoverboard) unlocked through late pledges via BackerKit. Each unlock added a new feature or content area to the game's development plan. The $150,000 goal was determined by a community vote held in the official Discord server, where backers chose the Boat House / Ship DIY feature.
Amount | Stretch Goal | Description |
|---|---|---|
$100,000 | Ocean Park | A floating water amusement park area added to the game world |
$120,000 | Character Customization | Additional hairstyles, face options, and clothing in the character creator |
$150,000 | Boat House / Ship DIY | Water-based structure customization (chosen by community Discord vote) |
$170,000 | Roller Skates | Roller Skates added as a vehicle option for island traversal |
$200,000 | New NPC Outfit | A community-voted outfit design added to the game |
$220,000 | Red Panda and Fox Pets | Two new pet types added to the adoption system |
$250,000 | Pet Shop and Pet Customization | Expanded pet system with Stella's Woof & Wow Pets shop and pet outfit options |
$270,000 | Flower Stall and Flower Crops | New floral farming system and a flower-selling stall |
$300,000 | Flight Vehicles and Hoverboard | Aerial transport and the Hoverboard added to the vehicle roster |
The development team confirmed that all unlocked stretch goals will be implemented. Some arrived in time for the Early Access launch on February 11, 2026 (including Roller Skates, the pet system with Stella's shop, and expanded character customization), while others are being rolled out in post-launch updates. Features like flight vehicles and the Hoverboard are expected to arrive during or after the full 1.0 release in Summer 2026.
Reward Tiers
The campaign offered reward tiers ranging from $20 to $10,000. Higher tiers included increasingly rare cosmetic items and creative input opportunities. All Kickstarter-exclusive rewards are cosmetic and do not affect gameplay balance.
Tier | Key Rewards |
|---|---|
$20 | Developer thank-you, exclusive wallpapers, 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 |
Mid-range tiers ($35 to $100) represented the bulk of pledges, giving backers alpha access, cosmetic items, and digital extras. The premium $5,000 and $10,000 tiers offered direct creative input, allowing top-tier backers to design NPCs or name locations in the game world.
Community Involvement
The Kickstarter campaign was notable for its community engagement. The $150,000 stretch goal was decided through a Discord vote, giving backers direct influence over what the game would include. Richardo Wang stated during the campaign: "This is a project filled with heart. With the community's help, we can bring even more ideas to life."
The 5,306 backers formed the core of the early community, providing feedback during alpha testing sessions available to backers at the $35 tier and above. This feedback loop continued through the development period leading up to the February 2026 Early Access launch and helped shape design decisions around farming mechanics, NPC interactions, and the island's layout.
Impact on Development
The Kickstarter funding supplemented Seed Sparkle Lab's development budget and validated the project's commercial potential before launch. The campaign's success (nearly triple the original goal) allowed the team to commit to features that might otherwise have been cut, including the pet shop system, flight vehicles, and the Ocean Park area. The stretch goal structure also served as a public commitment to a feature set, giving the community a clear picture of what to expect from the finished game.