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Demo
April 17, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Removed external site attributions and Sources section
The Outbound demo is a free playable preview of Outbound, the cozy open-world camper van exploration game developed by Square Glade Games. The demo gives players access to the opening portion of the game, set within a single biome called The Coast. It features the core gameplay loop of resource gathering, van building, crafting, and exploration, all with full online multiplayer co-op support for up to four players. The demo is available at no cost on Steam (app ID 2938240), Nintendo eShop (Switch and Switch 2), PlayStation Store (PS5), and Microsoft Store (Xbox Series X|S).
The Outbound demo first went live on February 17, 2026, as part of the Steam Next Fest February 2026 edition. Square Glade Games had already built significant momentum with a Kickstarter campaign that raised nearly $300,000, and the demo's appearance at Next Fest generated immediate buzz in cozy gaming communities. Outbound quickly became one of the most-played demos of the entire festival, drawing comparisons to Firewatch for its visual style and to Stardew Valley for its relaxed gameplay loop.
By the end of Steam Next Fest, over 50,000 players had tested the demo on PC alone. The strong showing contributed to Outbound surpassing 1.3 million Steam wishlists ahead of its April 23, 2026 release date.
Following the success of the Steam demo, Square Glade Games expanded availability to consoles in the weeks before launch:
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2: The demo was shadow-dropped during a Nintendo Indie World showcase in March 2026, making it available for download through the Nintendo eShop.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S: Console demos launched on March 31, 2026, giving PS5 and Xbox players access to the same open-ended experience available on PC and Switch.
All console versions of the demo include the same content and features as the Steam version, including full online co-op for up to four players.
The Outbound demo has been widely well-received. Across PC, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2, the demo surpassed 500,000 downloads. On Steam specifically, the demo holds an 85% positive rating from over 1,005 user reviews, earning it a "Very Positive" designation.
Critics and players alike praised the demo for its polished presentation, relaxing atmosphere, and the generosity of its content. described Outbound as "cozy survival through a Pixar lens," highlighting the game's distinctive art direction and stress-free approach to the survival genre. The demo was featured in numerous "best of Steam Next Fest" roundups from outlets including ComicBook, WCCFTech, Sprites and Dice, and GamingOnLinux.
Square Glade Games had previously won the gamescom CommUnity Choice Award for Outbound, and the demo's reception further solidified the game's position as one of the most anticipated cozy titles of 2026.
The demo offers approximately 2 to 3 hours of open-ended gameplay, though players who explore thoroughly have reported spending longer. Some playtesters during development spent more than 10 hours in the demo's single biome, which exceeded the developers' own expectations.
One biome (The Coast): A region combining tropical shores with rocky cliffs, lush forests, and gigantic redwood trees alongside palm trees on sandy beaches.
Van building: Players start with an empty camper van and can build, customize, and upgrade it using modular parts. Solar panels, wind turbines, greenhouses, and other components can be stacked on top of the van.
Crafting and resource gathering: The full crafting loop is available, including harvesting resources, unlocking blueprints, and building workstations.
Renewable energy: Players can source power from sun, wind, or water to run their van and workstations.
Farming and cooking: Crop growing and basic cooking mechanics are accessible in the demo.
Exploration: Open-ended exploration of The Outdoors within the demo biome, including discovering landmarks and points of interest.
Full multiplayer: Online co-op for up to four players, with shared progression where any unlock made by one player applies to everyone in the session.
The demo restricts access to content reserved for the full release. Additional biomes beyond The Coast are not available, and certain late-game van upgrades, vehicle types, and technology tree blueprints are locked. Progression eventually reaches a point where the game displays a "Thank you for playing the Demo" message, though players can continue to explore and build freely within the available area after seeing it.
The demo supports full online multiplayer co-op for up to four players, which was a significant factor in its popularity. In co-op, all players share a single van and a combined progression: if one player unlocks a blueprint or recipe, every player in the session gains access to it.
Players can divide tasks, with one player gathering resources while another builds or cooks. The cooperative structure encouraged social play and contributed to positive word-of-mouth during Steam Next Fest. The Ancient Gaming Noob highlighted the co-op angle specifically, noting how the shared progression system made the experience feel collaborative rather than competitive.
Community response to the demo was overwhelmingly positive, with several recurring themes in player feedback:
Topic | Feedback |
|---|---|
Visual style | Widely praised for its colorful, Pixar-inspired art direction. Players compared it favorably to Firewatch and The Sims. |
Cozy gameplay | The relaxed, stress-free approach to survival was the most commonly cited positive. Players appreciated the lack of combat and hostile threats. |
Van customization | The modular van-building system received strong praise, with players enjoying the creative freedom of designing their mobile home. |
Music and audio | The soundtrack was frequently highlighted as a standout element that complemented the cozy atmosphere. |
Walking and driving speed | The most common criticism. Both character walking speed and van driving speed were felt to be too slow, with the van's speedometer showing around 40 but feeling sluggish. Developers acknowledged this and indicated that speed upgrades and additional vehicle types would be available in the full game. |
The Outbound demo is free to download on all supported platforms
Platform | Where to Download | Notes |
|---|---|---|
PC | Steam Store (search "Outbound Demo" or use app ID 2938240) | Available since February 17, 2026 |
Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 | Nintendo eShop | Shadow-dropped during Indie World showcase, March 2026 |
PlayStation 5 | PlayStation Store | Available since March 31, 2026 |
Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Store | Available since March 31, 2026 |
No subscription (such as PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass) is required to download or play the demo on any platform.
The demo's release was a key milestone in Outbound's development history. Square Glade Games used the Kickstarter campaign to build early community interest, and the Steam Next Fest demo served as the first large-scale public test. Feedback from the demo directly informed adjustments ahead of the full April 23, 2026 launch, including improvements to movement speed, UI clarity, and tutorial flow.
The decision to include full multiplayer in the demo was deliberate. Square Glade Games wanted players to experience the co-op systems firsthand, understanding that cooperative play was a core selling point. The strategy paid off: co-op gameplay clips and streams during Next Fest drove significant additional wishlists and media coverage.
Every fifth playtester during early testing spent more than 10 hours in the demo's single biome, exceeding the developers' expectations for a roughly 2-3 hour experience.
The demo's Steam app ID (2938240) is separate from the main game's app ID (2681030). Players who wishlist the full game do not automatically have the demo in their library and must download it separately.
The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 demo was shadow-dropped without prior announcement during an Indie World showcase, surprising the community.
Outbound won the gamescom CommUnity Choice Award before the demo was even publicly released.
