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11 Overview
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33 The technology tree in Outbound is the game's central progression system. Rather than a conventional skill tree with branching nodes, Outbound gates new crafting recipes, workstations, building modules, and upgrades behind blueprints that players physically acquire from structures scattered throughout the world. The two core elements driving this system are Signal Towers and Download Vouchers. Players earn vouchers by collecting litter and processing it in the Recycler, then spend those vouchers at Signal Towers to download blueprints. This loop ties exploration, environmental cleanup, and crafting progression into a single cohesive gameplay cycle.
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55 Because blueprint choices vary between players and playthroughs, no two progression paths are identical. The system encourages revisiting areas, exploring new biomes, and making strategic decisions about which blueprints to prioritize.
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77 Signal Towers
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99 Signal Towers are tall structures found throughout the open world. They serve as the primary method for downloading new blueprints. The Outdoors biome alone contains 23 of them, and additional towers are spread across other biomes like The Coast. When a player approaches a Signal Tower, they can interact with it to browse the available blueprints. Activating a download costs a certain number of Download Vouchers, and the blueprint is then permanently added to the player's crafting system or building system.
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1111 Blueprint Selection
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1313 Most Signal Towers offer multiple blueprint options to choose from rather than handing out a single predetermined unlock. When interacting with a tower, players see a selection of available blueprints and must decide which one to download. This introduces a layer of strategy: spending vouchers on an energy upgrade early might delay access to a new workstation, and vice versa. The need to choose creates natural variation in how different players approach the game.
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1515 Randomized Options
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1717 The blueprint options offered at each Signal Tower can vary from player to player and from playthrough to playthrough. This means that even if two players visit the same tower at the same point in the game, they may see different selections. The randomization ensures that each run through Outbound feels fresh and encourages players to adapt their strategy based on what becomes available rather than following a fixed optimal path.
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1919 Signal Tower Refresh
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2121 Signal Towers are not one-time-use structures. From time to time, a previously visited tower will provide a new signal, offering a fresh set of blueprints for download. This mechanic rewards players who revisit earlier areas of the map rather than only pushing forward into new territory. Returning to towers that have refreshed is an effective way to fill gaps in the technology tree and eventually unlock the full blueprint collection.
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2323 Download Vouchers
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2525 Download Vouchers are the currency required to activate Signal Towers and download blueprints. They are produced by the Recycler, a workstation mounted on the camper van. The Recycler converts litter and discarded items found in the environment into vouchers. Litter is scattered across every biome, so collecting it naturally fits into the rhythm of exploration and travel.
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2727 Earning Vouchers
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2929 The process for earning vouchers is straightforward. While exploring on foot or driving between locations, players pick up discarded bottles, cans, and other trash from the landscape. Once they return to the van, they feed the litter into the Recycler, which processes it and outputs Download Vouchers. Picking up litter while walking between landmarks and recycling it at the van creates a steady supply without requiring dedicated farming runs.
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3131 Managing Voucher Inventory
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3333 Download Vouchers occupy space in the player's backpack alongside regular resources. Because storage and inventory space is limited, it is wise to spend accumulated vouchers at nearby Signal Towers before they pile up and crowd out slots needed for gathering materials. Balancing when to carry vouchers and when to spend them is part of efficient route planning.
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3535 Progression Branches
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3737 The blueprints available across all Signal Towers and Points of Interest span several major categories. The table below summarizes the main branches and what they unlock.
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3939 BranchWhat It UnlocksKey ExamplesWorkstations and CraftingNew workstations and crafting recipes for tools, meals, and refined materialsAdvanced workbenches, smelters, cooking stations, refined material recipesBuildingStructural and decorative building modules for the vanWalls, roofs, platforms, furniture, rooftop extensionsEnergyRenewable power sources, improved generators, and battery capacity upgradesSolar panels, wind turbines, water generators, larger batteriesAutomationComponents for linking workstations into hands-free production chainsConveyor connections, automated feeders, linked automation setupsFarmingAdvanced farming equipment, new crop types, and irrigation toolsSprinklers, planters, new seeds, beekeeping suppliesToolsUpgraded tools for harvesting resources more efficientlyBetter axes, pickaxes, and gathering implements
4040 Players cannot unlock everything at once. Download Voucher costs and the physical distribution of Signal Towers across biomes force prioritization. Some players rush energy upgrades to support power-hungry automated setups, while others focus on building unlocks to customize the van early. There is no single correct order, and the randomized blueprint offerings mean the optimal path shifts with each playthrough.
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4242 Skill Tree
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44-In addition to blueprint-based progression, Outbound has a small skill tree that provides incremental improvements to the player character's personal abilities. Unlike blueprints, which add new recipes and modules, the skill tree enhances existing capabilities. The three known branches are:
44+Alongside the blueprint downloads, the game keeps a research tree that spends materials rather than Download Coupons. It has 41 nodes. Six of them are free root categories that open once you reach them, and the rest cost a stack of refined materials each.
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46-Driving: Improvements to the camper van's handling, acceleration, and off-road performance. Higher driving skills make navigating rough terrain and steep inclines easier.Energy Capacity: Increases to the van's base battery capacity and energy efficiency. These upgrades reduce how quickly power drains when running multiple workstations or appliances.Navigation: Enhancements to the player's ability to find and track Points of Interest, Signal Towers, and other locations on the map. Navigation skills can reveal nearby towers or resources that would otherwise require manual discovery.
46+The free roots are Basebuilding, Companion, Player Equipment, Pouch, Vehicle Building Space Upgrades and Vehicle Powertrain Upgrades. Everything else hangs off one of those: powertrain leads into the Motor Upgrades, Player Equipment into the backpack, clothing and pants lines, and Companion into the dog whistle and recall abilities described on the Dog Companion page.
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48-The skill tree is intentionally small compared to the blueprint system. It complements technology progression by making the player more effective at the core activities (driving, powering the van, and finding new towers) rather than adding entirely new mechanics.
48+ResearchCostPrereqsUnlocksBasebuildingFree03CompanionFree02Player EquipmentFree03PouchFree00Vehicle Building Space UpgradesFree02Vehicle Powertrain UpgradesFree02Adventurer's Backpack15x Durathread11Explorer's Backpack20x Hyperthread, 6x Cloth10Bamboo Building Style15x Bamboo, 10x Blossom Plank, 5x Beeswax11Bamboo Roofs Variety20x Bamboo, 30x Blossom Plank10Battery Capacity Upgrade I10x Bolts, 8x Scrap Metal11Battery Capacity Upgrade II3x Battery Components, 2x Sheet Metal11Battery Capacity Upgrade III4x Power Cell10Better Whistle3x Beeswax, 2x Processed Rubber11Clothing Upgrade II8x Durathread, 8x Onyx Minerals11Clothing Upgrade III4x Strong Weave, 4x Red Ore, 6x Fluff Stuffing10Cooling System Upgrade2x Hardened Metal, 4x Electronics, 10x Water10Glass Roofs Variety30x Glass, 20x Amberstone10Greenhouse Building Style10x Glass, 20x Amberstone11Motor Upgrade I10x Bolts11Motor Upgrade II6x Casings, 2x Electronics12Motor Upgrade III20x Adamant Metal, 40x Rose Minerals10Outdoor Placement4x Scrap Metal, 10x Fibre11Outdoor Placement Upgrade I20x Scrap Metal, 20x Everwood Plank11Outdoor Placement Upgrade II20x Sea Shell, 15x Raw Coffee Beans11Outdoor Placement Upgrade III10x Salt, 16x Paint10Pants Upgrade II2x Cloth, 8x Red Minerals, 4x Salt11Pants Upgrade III6x Strong Weave, 10x Rose Minerals, 3x Chrome Ore10Pouch Upgrade I10x Red Minerals, 6x Cloth11Pouch Upgrade II10x Rose Minerals, 6x Strong Weave10Return To Vehicle6x Sea Shell, 4x Red Lumber11Scoop Net10x Fibre, 10x Scrap Metal00Search Resources8x Cactus Flower, 10x Red Minerals10Trellis Building Style10x Redwood Plank, 5x Beeswax11Trellis Roofs Variety30x Redwood Plank, 15x Beeswax10Weight Capacity Upgrade I10x Bolts11Weight Capacity Upgrade II10x Bolts, 10x Onyx Minerals11Weight Capacity Upgrade III16x Clay, 20x Glass11Weight Capacity Upgrade IV12x Adamant Metal, 22x Blossom Plank, 20x Sugar10Wooden Roofs Variety20x Everwood Plank, 10x Bolts11Wooden Window Walls Variety10x Everwood Plank, 10x Silverbark Plank11
49+Prereqs is how many earlier nodes a node depends on, and Unlocks is how many further nodes it opens. The three Motor Upgrades and the four Weight Capacity Upgrades are the two longest chains, and both matter for the Camper Van and for how much you can carry before the Encumbrance penalty kicks in.
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51+Research is delivered at the four research centres in the world, which is also what the Certified Researcher achievement asks for. The Scoop Net node arrived with the fishing update and is the entry point for Fishing.
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5053 Points of Interest
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5255 Blueprints are not exclusive to Signal Towers. They can also be found at landmarks, watchtowers, computer stations, and other Points of Interest scattered across the map. These locations reward thorough exploration with recipes and modules that are not available at Signal Towers, giving players who venture off the beaten path access to unique unlocks.
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5457 Points of Interest often contain blueprints for key items that help the player progress further into the game. Because these blueprints are tied to specific locations rather than randomized tower offerings, they serve as reliable progression anchors. Players who thoroughly explore each biome will encounter these locations naturally, while those who stick to main routes may miss them.
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5659 Co-Op Sharing
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5861 Outbound supports Multiplayer and Co-Op for up to four players. When playing cooperatively, progression is shared within the host's save game. If one player downloads a blueprint at a Signal Tower, all players in the session gain access to that recipe or module. This means the group does not need to unlock the same blueprint multiple times.
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6063 In practice, co-op groups can split up to cover more ground: one player might explore a distant biome to find new Signal Towers while another stays near the van to process litter and stockpile Download Vouchers. When they reconnect, the group benefits from both efforts. This cooperative approach to progression makes the technology tree faster to navigate in multiplayer compared to solo play.
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6265 Progression Flow
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6467 While every playthrough differs due to randomized blueprints, the general progression through the technology tree follows a recognizable arc tied to the game's three broad phases.
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6669 Early Game
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6871 The early game revolves around the bio burner as the sole power source and a handful of basic workstations. Players spend this phase learning the core loop: exploring the immediate area around the van, collecting litter to produce their first Download Vouchers, and visiting nearby Signal Towers to unlock essential tools like the axe and pickaxe. Crafting during this period focuses on basic tool creation and simple resource processing. The van has minimal modules, and power management requires feeding the bio burner with gathered resources.
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7073 Mid Game
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7275 Once players have unlocked renewable energy sources (solar panels, wind turbines, or both) and a broader set of workstations, the mid game opens up. The van becomes more self-sufficient, reducing the constant need to fuel the bio burner. Players begin pushing into new biomes, discovering more Signal Towers and Points of Interest. Automation blueprints start appearing at this stage, allowing players to link workstations into production chains that handle processing while the player is away exploring. Farming and advanced cooking recipes also become available, expanding the range of items the player can produce.
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7477 Late Game
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7679 In the late game, players work toward a fully self-sufficient setup. The van runs on a mixed renewable grid (solar, wind, and hydro depending on the current biome), eliminating the need for burning resources entirely. Automation handles most production, farming is largely automated, and the player has unlocked the majority of available blueprints. Late-game progression focuses on filling in remaining gaps by revisiting refreshed Signal Towers, tracking down elusive Points of Interest, and optimizing the van's layout with advanced building modules. At this point, the technology tree is nearing completion, and gameplay shifts from unlocking new capabilities to refining and perfecting the player's mobile home.
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7881 Tips for Efficient Progression
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8083 Pick up litter constantly. Every piece of trash on the ground is a step toward your next blueprint. Make litter collection a habit whenever you leave the van, not a separate chore.Spend vouchers before they pile up. Download Vouchers take up inventory space. Visit Signal Towers regularly to convert your voucher stock into permanent unlocks rather than letting them clog your backpack.Revisit earlier towers. Signal Towers refresh their blueprints over time. A tower that had nothing useful on your first visit may offer a critical unlock later.Explore thoroughly. Points of Interest provide unique blueprints not found at Signal Towers. Checking every landmark, watchtower, and computer station ensures you do not miss exclusive recipes.Prioritize energy early. Unlocking at least one renewable energy source (solar or wind) during the early-to-mid game transition dramatically reduces the upkeep burden of the bio burner and frees you to explore farther from the van.Coordinate in co-op. If playing with friends, split up to visit multiple Signal Towers in a single outing. Every blueprint one player downloads benefits the entire group.Plan your route around towers. When driving to a new area, chart a path that passes through multiple Signal Towers. Combining exploration with tower visits maximizes the value of each trip.
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8285 Related Articles
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8487 Signal TowersRecycling SystemCrafting SystemEnergy SystemBuilding SystemFarmingAutomationExplorationMultiplayer and Co-Op