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Technology Tree
May 3, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Updated wikilink display text to match title case changes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Branch | What It Unlocks | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|
Workstations and Crafting | New workstations and crafting recipes for tools, meals, and refined materials | Advanced workbenches, smelters, cooking stations, refined material recipes |
Building | Structural and decorative building modules for the van | Walls, roofs, platforms, furniture, rooftop extensions |
Energy | Renewable power sources, improved generators, and battery capacity upgrades | Solar panels, wind turbines, water generators, larger batteries |
Automation | Components for linking workstations into hands-free production chains | Conveyor connections, automated feeders, linked automation setups |
Advanced farming equipment, new crop types, and irrigation tools | Sprinklers, planters, new seeds, beekeeping supplies | |
Tools | Upgraded tools for harvesting resources more efficiently | Better axes, pickaxes, and gathering implements |
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
