New Cozy RPG Suddenly Disappears From Steam And It Might Have Something To Do With Ripping Off Tetris
Starsand Island, a cozy farming simulation developed and published by Seed Sparkle Lab, has been removed from Steam following what appears to be an intellectual property infringement issue. The developers announced the removal as an “emergency measure” in a statement, citing “insufficient verification during the planning stage of a minigame” and referencing “expressions from external works”—language suggesting unauthorized use of third-party intellectual property.
The game, which launched in February 2026, was initially well-received by critics, with PC Gamer calling it “the first can’t-miss cozy game of 2026” based on its demo. The removal appears to stem from a minigame that players identified as a blatant Tetris clone, marking the second notable incident for the title since its release.
The self-imposed delisting indicates that Seed Sparkle Lab took action after discovering the infringing content rather than awaiting intervention from Steam or the Tetris intellectual property holder. The removal raises questions about the game’s development verification process and highlights ongoing challenges in indie game publishing around IP clearance and asset licensing.