Starsand Island Demo — How to Try Before You Buy
Starsand Island did not have a separate demo — Early Access was the demo. Here's how the six-month window worked.
Last verified: 2026-08-19
Early Access was the demo
From February 11, 2026 to August 18, 2026, anyone could buy the Early Access build for the discounted price of $24.99 and play the full game with some content gated. Save files carry forward into Version 1.0, so anything you bought, built, or romanced during Early Access is preserved on launch day.
What was included
The Early Access build included the Moonlit Forest, the first two professions (Crafting and Farming), eight of the fifteen romance candidates, three of the five house layouts, and most of the bulletin-board content. The remaining content — multiplayer, two romance candidates, the autumn festival — landed with Version 1.0.
Game Pass as a free demo on Xbox
On Xbox, Starsand Island joined Game Pass on the same day as Steam Early Access. Anyone with Game Pass Ultimate, Essential, or Premium could play the full EA build for free — effectively a six-month-long demo. Save files also carry forward into the full purchase on the Microsoft Store.
Is there a real demo now?
There is no separate demo as of Version 1.0. The launch discount (20% on Steam, ~10% on Nintendo eShop) is the closest equivalent. We will update this page if a time-limited trial is added post-launch.