Gamer Social Club has been following the progress of Starsand Island by developers Seed Sparkle Lab (formerly Seed Labs) since spring of 2025. With a previously planned full release of February 1st 2026, the developers have decided to instead launch in Early Access for PC via Steam, as well as a game preview on Xbox Series and PC via the Microsoft Store on February 11th 2026.
Seed Sparkle Lab stressed that Early Access is crucial for Starsand Island and the community it’s building. The developers say Early Access will help finalize content and refine the end-game experience, using player feedback to help refine toward full release.
Early Access of Starsand Island will be offered in two editions, Standard and Deluxe:
Standard Edition of Starsand Island will include the base game as well as all Early Access content. As a special bonus, players who purchase during this time will receive exclusive festive patterns and furniture inspired by traditional Chinese New Year.
The Deluxe Edition will include everything in the Standard Edition, with the addition of content inspired by Romanticism. It features classical outfits and fantasy-inspired furniture for players who want to start their journey with expanded customization options.
What’s Incmuded With Early Access
During its Early Access launch, Starsand Island plans to introduce key gameplay mechanics allowing players to experience most of its content. Offering over 100 hours of gameplay, Starsand Island gives players plenty to enjoy before its full release, from farming and ranching to crafting, fishing, and exploring the island. Multiplayer will not be available until Starsand Island’s official full launch.
Some Early Access Features:
- 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.
Starsand Island is headed to all major platforms upon full release launch on Steam for PC, Steam Deck & macOS, Xbox, Playstation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. Pricing for Early Access or the full release has not yet been announced. Seed Sparkle Labs is targeting a Summer 2026 launch.
Have you been following Starsand Island’s progression? Will you be purchasing the game in Early Access? Let us know in the comments!
