Seed Lab, known for its creative takes on the life simulation genre, has officially announced that their anime-inspired title, Starsand Island, is in active development for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
As anticipation grows for Nintendo's next-generation hardware, this release expands the Switch 2’s lineup with a unique blend of farming, exploration, and community living, set against a charming island backdrop. Starsand Island places players in the role of an urban dweller returning to their idyllic childhood home, seeking comfort and personal growth.
The game offers a relaxing escape from city life, allowing players to cultivate crops, care for animals, fish in tranquil waters, and build relationships with the island’s eclectic residents.
Exploring the island will reveal mysterious ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and opportunities to shape the land to your own vision. The Nintendo Switch 2 port brings substantial improvements to the Starsand Island experience.
Players can choose between a Quality Mode that targets 45 frames per second at 1080p resolution, or a Performance Mode that aims for a smoother 60 frames per second at the same resolution.
Supporting both docked and handheld play, the game also incorporates advanced features for the console, including GameChat functionality for online multiplayer sessions and compatibility with Joy-Con 2’s upgraded capabilities, such as mouse controls for precise navigation. In a statement distilled by the team, Seed Lab’s creative director, Richardo Wang, shared, 'Bringing Starsand Island to Nintendo Switch 2 has been a longstanding goal for us.
The life-sim genre has always found a natural fit on Nintendo consoles, and we set our sights on the platform even before its official reveal.
We designed Starsand Island to deliver a soothing, pastoral experience—perfect for players at home or on the go.' Key features highlighted by the publisher include: - Living in harmony with nature—players can cultivate tropical produce, befriend animals, and customize their countryside villas, designing terrace gardens and landscapes that reflect their stewardship. - Freedom to explore—ride longboards along beaches, cruise forests by scooter, or sail to neighbouring islands, each vehicle offering a new way to uncover the island’s secrets at your chosen pace. - Building relationships—deepen connections with locals through daily interactions and special quests, potentially discovering meaningful friendships or romance. - Uncovering mysteries—delve into fog-covered ruins to find treasures, minerals, and challenge unique creatures in dynamic combat scenarios. Seed Lab has confirmed that Starsand Island will launch globally in digital format via the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026, adding to the growing excitement for software on Nintendo’s latest home-console hybrid.
As more details surface leading up to release, Starsand Island emerges as a promising title for fans of life-simulation and narrative-driven adventures on Nintendo Switch 2.
As anticipation grows for Nintendo's next-generation hardware, this release expands the Switch 2’s lineup with a unique blend of farming, exploration, and community living, set against a charming island backdrop. Starsand Island places players in the role of an urban dweller returning to their idyllic childhood home, seeking comfort and personal growth.
The game offers a relaxing escape from city life, allowing players to cultivate crops, care for animals, fish in tranquil waters, and build relationships with the island’s eclectic residents.
Exploring the island will reveal mysterious ancient ruins, hidden treasures, and opportunities to shape the land to your own vision. The Nintendo Switch 2 port brings substantial improvements to the Starsand Island experience.
Players can choose between a Quality Mode that targets 45 frames per second at 1080p resolution, or a Performance Mode that aims for a smoother 60 frames per second at the same resolution.
Supporting both docked and handheld play, the game also incorporates advanced features for the console, including GameChat functionality for online multiplayer sessions and compatibility with Joy-Con 2’s upgraded capabilities, such as mouse controls for precise navigation. In a statement distilled by the team, Seed Lab’s creative director, Richardo Wang, shared, 'Bringing Starsand Island to Nintendo Switch 2 has been a longstanding goal for us.
The life-sim genre has always found a natural fit on Nintendo consoles, and we set our sights on the platform even before its official reveal.
We designed Starsand Island to deliver a soothing, pastoral experience—perfect for players at home or on the go.' Key features highlighted by the publisher include: - Living in harmony with nature—players can cultivate tropical produce, befriend animals, and customize their countryside villas, designing terrace gardens and landscapes that reflect their stewardship. - Freedom to explore—ride longboards along beaches, cruise forests by scooter, or sail to neighbouring islands, each vehicle offering a new way to uncover the island’s secrets at your chosen pace. - Building relationships—deepen connections with locals through daily interactions and special quests, potentially discovering meaningful friendships or romance. - Uncovering mysteries—delve into fog-covered ruins to find treasures, minerals, and challenge unique creatures in dynamic combat scenarios. Seed Lab has confirmed that Starsand Island will launch globally in digital format via the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 in early 2026, adding to the growing excitement for software on Nintendo’s latest home-console hybrid.
As more details surface leading up to release, Starsand Island emerges as a promising title for fans of life-simulation and narrative-driven adventures on Nintendo Switch 2.
