Starsand Island will leave Steam Early Access with four-player co-op on August 18

Starsand Island will leave Steam Early Access and launch as a full Version 1.0 game on August 18, 2026. The update will arrive about five months after Seed Sparkle Lab first released the tropical life sim in Early Access.

The game will also launch on PS5 on August 18. A physical PS5 edition is scheduled to follow on November 12, with pre-orders already available.

The biggest addition will be online multiplayer for up to four players. Friends will be able to farm, fish, build, travel around the island, and spend time together in its sunny coastal setting. Seed Sparkle Lab announced the date in a Steam announcement published on July 31.

The multiplayer update gives Starsand Island a clear group-play focus at launch, but the game’s solo activities will remain at its core. Players can grow crops, care for animals, relax on the beach, and take boat trips around the surrounding waters. Its colorful, anime-inspired presentation and island setting give it a warmer, more summery feel than the usual countryside farm.

The full release will also expand the island’s social side with character interactions and minigames based around kite flying, picnics, and arcade games. Players can furnish spaces and take part in activities beyond farming, fishing, and gardening.

Seed Sparkle Lab credited player feedback with helping guide the game through Early Access. The developer said that community support led to new content and adjustments to existing features, while feedback helped shape the game ahead of its full launch.

Moving from Early Access to Version 1.0 in roughly half a year is a quick schedule for a farming sim. The launch version will also come with a special discount, although the announcement did not give a price or say how long the offer will last.

The studio also made clear that August 18 will not be the end of development. Seed Sparkle Lab described Version 1.0 as the beginning and said it plans to continue adding content, improvements, and future updates to Starsand Island. The first seasonal addition planned for after launch is a pumpkin carnival scheduled for autumn, with themed decorations and exclusive rewards.

For players who enjoy the slower side of farming games, the comparison point is easy to spot. Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing take different approaches to island and farm life, while Starsand Island puts its own coastal spin on the formula and adds four-player online play when the full release arrives.

Starsand Island will launch Version 1.0 on Steam and PS5 on August 18. Share your thoughts about its multiplayer plans in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram.