Coral Island, a game that has garnered significant attention for its similarities to Stardew Valley, is slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S come November 14. This announcement comes over a year after its initial appearance on Xbox Game Pass and Steam’s early access program. The journey of Coral Island, developed by Stairway Games, has been an intriguing one, evolving from a Kickstarter campaign to a full-fledged release that aims to captivate fans of farming simulation games.

The Development Timeline of Coral Island

Stairway Games has been actively working on Coral Island since the latter part of 2019. The first significant milestone was the Kickstarter campaign that managed to raise an impressive $1.6 million from 36,374 backers. Following the successful crowdfunding, Stairway partnered with Humble Games, the publishing arm of Humble Bundle, in March 2022. A preview version of the farming simulator game then saw its release in October the same year.

What to Expect in the 1.0 Version

The game is on the cusp of transitioning out of early access, with the 1.0 version set to be available on November 14. Retailing at $29.99—a $5 increase compared to the early access pricing—Stairway cites the abundant new content as the justification for the price modification. With the 1.0 version, players can expect deeper romantic engagements through the introduction of marriage and family mechanics. There will also be a new story quest aimed at rejuvenating the in-game town situated on Coral Island. Further enriching the player’s experience will be new NPC interactions, a pet adoption system, additional underwater locations, and a broader range of furnishing options.

Coral Island’s Cross-Platform Plans

The game’s release is not just limited to PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Stairway Games has plans to bring Coral Island to the Nintendo Switch. However, this port is still in its developmental phase, with the release date yet to be confirmed. Stairway has indicated a tentative release year as 2024 for the Nintendo Switch eShop.

Options for Impatient Switch Backers

For Kickstarter backers who initially chose the Switch version but are unwilling to wait any longer, there is an option to switch their choice to a Steam key. They can do this by emailing Stairway Games at support@stairwaygames.com before the end of October. Platform changes have to be finalized by November 1, making this a limited-time option.

Final Thoughts

Coral Island represents an emerging trend in the gaming industry where indie developers leverage crowdfunding platforms to bring their visions to life. With robust features and mechanics that offer an engaging gameplay loop, it stands as a testament to the viability of such an approach to game development. Its impending release on major platforms suggests a bright future not just for the game but also for those who aspire to follow a similar route in game development.

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