Vince Pavey asks Golton Gao, Technical Director and Producer, and Richardo Wang, Creative Director and


ince Pavey


How would you describe Starsand Island to me if you were to give me the elevator pitch? Gao: If I had to describe it in one sentence, I would call Starsand Island a ‘next-generation, cozy, life-simulation, sandbox game’ — forgive me for using so many modifiers! From a player’s perspective, this is the game that best fulfills your imagination of creating and enjoying pastoral life. Everything revolves around this: The most pastoral-life-fitting, cozy, anime art style; a rich life simulation; and super, high-freedom construction DIY.


You could make any game. Why make this one in particular? Wang: First, regarding the genre: Our core team members are all hardcore fans of farming simulation games. Whether it’s Stardew Valley, My Time at Portia, or My Time at Sandrock, we absolutely adore them. That’s why we wanted to create a farming game we ourselves could take pride in. Second, concerning our philosophy: We’ve always yearned for an


Eastern-style pastoral reclusive life — this ideal of “poetic wine-and- countryside living” has long been the desire of our hearts. Moreover, this inward-seeking philosophy fits perfectly within the framework of a farming simulation game. We believe that in today’s consumerist society, where everyone


lives under anxiety and pressure, people need a warm and healing virtual home to serve as spiritual solace, alleviating their unease. We feel we should follow in the footsteps of therapeutic cultural works like Studio Ghibli films and Little Forest, and imbue our game with healing elements to offer players some emotional comfort.


What makes Starsand Island different from other cozy life simulation games on the market? Gao: Starsand Island stands out from other life simulation games in three distinct ways. Firstly, its anime aesthetic which, along with its pastoral gameplay experience, has a striking visual charm and emotional resonance for players.


14 | MCV/DEVELOP June/July 2025


y asks Golton Gao Technical Director and


Producer at Seed Lab about the work going into cultivating their cozy island paradise game


Secondly, we’re building Starsand Island to enable players to


create and enjoy their ideal pastoral life in a virtual world. These include diverse career paths and activities such as farming and fishing; a community of NPCs with vivid behavioural logic and interactions; animal mounts and vehicles… even combat against fantastical creatures! Thirdly is our highly granular construction system, which


seamlessly blends grid-based construction akin to Minecraft with modular block-based building reminiscent of The Sims. The resulting rich and unique hybrid approach is, we feel, unmatched in the current market. Additionally, we’re building Starsand Island to have theme-integrated customization features, including houseboat DIY, aquarium DIY, and island terrain DIY.


What can you tell me about the game’s story? Wang: The story takes place on Starsand Island, a small island where you, an urbanite worn down by endless work, finally decide to quit your job and return to your hometown in search of yourself. The game begins aboard a sea train. As you gaze out the window,


the gray high-rises slowly give way to sparkling blue seas and skies — the weight on your shoulders seems to melt away. Life on Starsand Island moves at a completely different pace. You


can tend to your own little farm, go fishing, fix up your old house, or simply chat with friendly neighbors. Reuniting with your childhood friend brings a warm sense of nostalgia. The changing seasons are breathtaking — carpets of spring flowers, and in summer, beaches that glow at night. It makes you wonder: What was all that hustling in the city really for? But it’s not always smooth sailing. A real estate tycoon wants to


turn the island into a tourist hotspot, so you and the other islanders must band together to protect your home. In the end, as you watch sunlight stream into your renovated old house and share peaceful days with everyone on the island, you realize: Slow living can be truly rewarding.


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