Coral Island Update 1.1b Brings Exciting New Features & Multiplayer Testing

Published on 10 December, 2024

I’ve been absolutely hooked on Coral Island this year, and it’s been a comforting retreat from the chaos of everyday life. The farming simulation offers an escape where you can connect with your neighbors, take care of your farm, and even clean up the environmental mess left behind by big corporations. It’s a game where no one’s political opinions will leave you feeling betrayed, and the deeper you dive into the characters’ backstories, the more enriching the experience becomes.

Coral Island lets you escape from city life to restore a farm near Starlight Town, which was once a vibrant tourist destination. But oil pollution has ravaged the area, leaving only a small, resilient community. While the main story focuses on completing quests and fending off the corporate greed of Pufferfish Corporation, there’s so much more to explore. You can learn magic, swim with mermaids, or even joke around with giants. And for coffee lovers, the game even reveals the story behind the high value of gesha coffee—although my character wasn’t exactly thrilled by the discovery.

In November 2024, the dev team at Stairway Games released the Quality of Life 1.1b update, aiming to improve farm life and simplify quests for players. They also teased upcoming multiplayer functionality, with open testing scheduled to begin on December 15, 2024. Players interested in testing the multiplayer mode can join the official Coral Island Discord for more details.

What’s New in the Latest Update?

The November update brings some welcome additions and tweaks to the game, alongside a few formatting changes.

1. Romancing NPCs: More Ways to Build Relationships

Much like Stardew Valley, Coral Island lets you flirt, form friendships, and even marry some of the island’s charming NPCs. Although I personally enjoy the solitude of my farm, this new update gives players more tools for interacting with NPCs on a deeper level. A new relationship tracker now offers advice on triggering heart events, which could lead to romance (or at least a closer bond). If you’re more interested in building friendships, those relationships can lead to receiving recipes, gifts in the mail, or the chance to help with family feuds or even sick pets.

2. Lowered Difficulty for Town Ranking

In an effort to make the game more accessible, this update reduces the difficulty required to upgrade Starlight Town to its highest rank. When you start the game, the town is ranked “F,” largely due to the damage caused by the oil spill that decimated tourism, fishing, and other local businesses. This low ranking sets the stage for Karen from Pufferfish Corporation to try to take over, claiming that her company’s capitalist solutions can bring the town back to life. Of course, most of the locals see through this, remembering that it was Pufferfish that caused the disaster in the first place.

3. More Surprises and Updates

While the major focus of the update is on quality-of-life improvements, there are also more fun surprises tucked in, including new challenges and opportunities to explore the island. You can now do more than just build your farm—you can also engage with the community in meaningful ways, mend broken relationships, and uncover hidden treasures.

4. Multiplayer Testing Announcement

And for those eager for some multiplayer fun, Stairway Games has officially opened up testing for the upcoming multiplayer mode. Interested players can join the official Coral Island Discord and get ready for the open testing starting December 15. This multiplayer update will allow you to join friends or strangers on the island and share the farming experience in a cooperative environment.

Looking Ahead

With the Quality of Life 1.1b update, Coral Island continues to improve its gameplay experience, adding more layers of depth and interaction while maintaining the core charm of the game. Whether you’re looking to romance an NPC, take down corporate greed, or simply enjoy the serenity of farm life, there’s always something new to discover. And with the upcoming multiplayer feature, the island life is about to get a lot more exciting!

Stay tuned for more updates and head to the official Discord for the latest news and multiplayer test details!