Starsand Island has left Early Access. The 1.0 build from Seed Sparkle Lab is live on Steam and Xbox Series X|S, and it also marks the game’s debut on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The headline change is online multiplayer, but the update also reworks how relationships progress and adds a seasonal autumn festival.
Quick answer: Version 1.0 is out now on PC. On PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, the build appears once each platform finishes its store review, which can take a few hours after the PC rollout.
Where Starsand Island 1.0 is available
The game entered Early Access in February 2026 on PC and Xbox Series X|S. Version 1.0 keeps those platforms and adds two more. Digital pricing sits at roughly $40 across storefronts, and Seed Sparkle Lab confirmed there is no price increase tied to the full launch. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers keep access to the 1.0 build at no extra cost.
| Platform | 1.0 availability |
|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Live now, updated from Early Access |
| Xbox Series X|S | Digital only; Game Pass access included |
| PlayStation 5 | First release of the game, digital at launch |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | First release of the game, digital at launch |
| Physical (PS5, Switch 2) | November 12, 2026; pre-orders opened July 31 |
If you already own the game on PC or Xbox, no separate purchase is needed. The Early Access version updates in place through your existing library.
Online multiplayer: hosting, passwords, and separate islands
Up to four players can now share an island session. One player acts as the island host and controls who joins, including the option to set a password so only invited friends get in. Together you can fish along the coast, gather in the Moonlit Forest, clear requests, fight monsters in the ancient ruins, and build.
Progress does not merge. Each player keeps their own island and their own save state, so visiting a friend’s world does not overwrite or replace what you have built. Cross-play is not part of the 1.0 release; the studio has said it is looking into the possibility rather than committing to it.
Note: because multiplayer runs on the host’s island, permissions and access are decided by whoever is hosting, not by the visiting players.
Resource sharing and host permissions
Visitors can harvest and hand over resources to help each other finish tasks and quests. The host decides what guests are allowed to touch, and those settings can be changed at any point during a session rather than being locked in when the island opens.
Permissions cover fishing, crafting, crops, livestock, and other island resources. If a friend cannot interact with your fields or animals, the permission toggle for that category is the thing to check first.
Multiplayer Coins and the Multiplayer Shop
Playing in co-op earns Multiplayer Coins, a currency tied specifically to shared sessions. Farming, fishing, and taking photos alongside other players all pay out. The coins are spent at the Multiplayer Shop, which stocks furniture, decorations, and other items that are exclusive to that storefront.
You will know the system is working when coins appear after a co-op activity and the shop’s inventory becomes purchasable. Solo play does not generate this currency.
Relationship quests at three and five hearts
Nineteen NPCs received new relationship quests that trigger at the three-heart and five-heart milestones. Clearing them unlocks additional scenes and gameplay content, so heart levels now gate story material rather than only affecting dialogue.
Fourteen of the island’s residents are romanceable, and dating gained more variety in 1.0. Alongside the existing options, partners can join you for picnics, kite flying, arcade games, and photo sessions. The “relationship stories” layer opens once a bond reaches three hearts.
| Milestone | What it unlocks |
|---|---|
| Three hearts | Relationship story content and a new quest for each of the 19 NPCs |
| Five hearts | A second quest tier with further scenes and gameplay elements |
Autumn Pumpkin Carnival: activities and rewards
The full release adds a seasonal festival with its own storyline and event-only quests. During the carnival you can catch glowing jellyfish, grow festival pumpkins, and feed animals special treats that produce candy.
Rewards for taking part include outfits, makeup, emotes, recipes, and furniture that are tied to the event. Because the carnival is seasonal, it follows the game’s four-season cycle rather than being available at all times.
What carries over from Early Access
The core loop is unchanged. Farming, ranching, crafting, fishing, and production still run on a four-season cycle that shifts what you can grow and where you can explore. Mining, ancient ruins, and the fantastical creatures found outside the village remain the exploration side of the game, and character, home, and decorating customisation are still in place.
Seed Sparkle Lab has said its focus after 1.0 is responding to feedback, fixing issues, and continuing to refine the game, so the version number is a milestone rather than an end point for updates.
