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Launch Day - Version 12 vs Version 13
May 24, 2026, 04:51 AM
Corrected wikilink existence flags
May 24, 2026, 08:32 PM
Removed duplicate in-body wikilinks
11Overview22After more than four years in development, Outbound has launched in two staggered waves in May 2026. Square Glade Games self-publishes the PC version on Steam and the Epic Games Store, while Silver Lining Interactive handles publishing on consoles. The first wave landed on Monday, May 11, 2026, covering PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and Xbox Series X|S. The second wave landed on Thursday, May 14, 2026, covering PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.55Momentum heading into launch was unusually strong for a small cozy indie. Outbound surpassed 1.3 million wishlists on Steam, its free demo drew more than 50,000 testers during Steam Next Fest with a Very Positive review rating, and the game took home the CommUnity Choice Award at gamescom 2025. Players who had followed the project since its successful Kickstarter campaign finally got to step into the full experience after years of public updates.77Two-Wave Release99Square Glade originally targeted a single global launch on April 23, 2026, then announced a delay to May 14 to address an issue identified late in development. Soon after, the studio split the launch in two: the PC and Xbox Series X|S versions were pulled forward to May 11, 2026 to avoid a head-to-head release window with another high-profile title that had locked in May 14. The PlayStation 5, Switch, and Switch 2 versions stayed on the original revised May 14 date because their console certification windows had already been finalized. The development history article documents the full lead-up to launch, and the version history article tracks every public build entry across the demo and launch waves.1111WaveDatePlatformsWave 1Monday, May 11, 2026PC (Steam), PC (Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|SWave 2Thursday, May 14, 2026PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 21313Xbox Game Pass Day One1414Outbound is available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, playable through cloud, console, and PC starting Monday, May 11, 2026. The lower Game Pass tiers (Premium and Standard) do not include the game. Subscribers can install the Xbox Series X|S version directly from the Microsoft Store or stream it via Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PC subscribers can install it through the Xbox app on Windows.1616Release Time1818Square Glade Games has not published a single synchronized unlock time across all regions for either wave. Historically, Steam releases unlock at 10:00 AM Pacific Time on the listed release day, which would place the May 11 PC launch at 10:00 AM PDT / 1:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM BST / 7:00 PM CEST. Console unlock times on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo storefronts typically follow each region's local midnight convention, so Europe and Asia may have seen the console versions go live several hours earlier than North America. Players should check their regional storefront on each wave's release day for exact local timing, since no platform-by-platform timestamp was officially published by the developer or by Silver Lining Interactive.2020Launch Discount2222Every digital storefront honors a 10 percent launch discount during release week, applied to the standard $24.99 price on Steam, Epic, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop. The discount tracks each wave's release window. After the first week, the game returns to its full base price; the next scheduled price cut typically falls on a seasonal storefront sale later in the year. The launch discount does not stack with regional pricing adjustments and does not apply to physical editions, which are sold at retail pricing set by Tesura Games.2424Platforms and Prices2626The digital standard price is $24.99 USD / €24.99 / £19.99 across every digital storefront on every platform. Physical editions for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 are produced and distributed by Tesura Games and carry their own retail pricing. Xbox Series X and Series S are digital-only at launch. More details are collected in the platforms and release article and in the dedicated physical editions page.2828PlatformFormatDigital PriceLaunch DatePC (Steam)Digital$24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99May 11, 2026PC (Epic Games Store)Digital$24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99May 11, 2026Xbox Series X|SDigital only$24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99May 11, 2026PlayStation 5Digital and Physical$24.99 digital, physical variesMay 14, 2026Nintendo SwitchDigital and Physical$24.99 digital, ~$39.99 physicalMay 14, 2026Nintendo Switch 2Digital and Physical$24.99 digital, ~$49.99 physicalMay 14, 20263030Digital Pre-Load3131Pre-load was available on every digital platform ahead of each wave, so players who pre-purchased could start downloading the full build before unlock. On Steam, pre-load became available automatically after pre-purchase, with the game locked until the wave's unlock window. The PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo eShop handled pre-load the same way they do for other pre-orders: the download queued up the moment the order was placed, and the game unlocked on May 11 for PC and Xbox or May 14 for PlayStation, Switch, and Switch 2 in the player's region.3333Because the PC build sits at around 16 GB based on the published system requirements, and the Switch and Switch 2 builds at roughly 7.8 GB, even players on slower connections could pull the download in the final days before each wave. Anyone who had the demo installed could keep it on their drive, but save data from the demo did not transfer into the full release.3535Physical Edition Availability3737Physical releases are produced and distributed by Tesura Games and ship on the May 14 console wave. Physical SKUs are confirmed for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 version ships as a full cartridge release rather than a download code. Two physical SKUs exist: a Standard Edition and a Collector's Edition. The Standard Edition includes the base game, the School Bus Adventures DLC, and a digital soundtrack download. The Collector's Edition adds an in-game map replica, an acrylic key art standee, a hanging charm, four enamel pins, two fabric patches, six postcards, and a presentation box.3939Pre-orders for the physical SKUs were open through Tesura Games' own shop and through major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, and Silver Lining Direct. Xbox Series X and Series S are digital-only: there is no physical Xbox release planned. More details on packaging are collected in the physical editions article.4141Steam Deck Verified4343The Steam version received Steam Deck Verified status on April 8, 2026, ahead of the May 11 PC launch. On Deck, the game runs at a stable 30-40 FPS at default settings with full controller support and readable text out of the box. No additional setup is required to play on Deck.4545Day-One Patch4747Square Glade Games has not publicly detailed a specific day-one patch. The studio indicated in pre-launch communication that final polish and bug fixes based on feedback from the PS5, Xbox, Switch, and Switch 2 demos were rolled into the 1.0 launch build. Players who pre-loaded saw a small patch (v1.0.2-800) download once the game unlocked, which is standard practice for multiplatform indie launches. Several follow-up patches (v1.0.3 through v1.0.7) shipped within the first week and are tracked in the version history article. Post-launch hotfixes and patches will be tracked in the version history article. For any issues identified at or after launch, check the frequently asked questions page.4949What is New From the Demo5151The free demo only covered a sliver of Outbound's full content. Players who spent time in the demo had already experienced the first biome, early crafting system unlocks, and a small part of the camper van progression. The 1.0 release opens up the full world with multiple biomes, the complete energy system tied to sun, wind, and water sources, deeper vehicle customization, and the full single-player arc. Four-player online co-op also unlocks across the full map, not just the demo area. Demo save data does not carry over, so every player will begin launch day with a fresh camper van.5353Getting Started at Launch5555For newcomers jumping in for the first time on launch day, the beginners guide is the single best starting point. It walks through the opening tutorial, the first few hours of resource gathering, and how to set up a basic camper that can sustain long trips. Players who want a quick reference on movement, interaction, and inventory management should keep the controls and gameplay page handy, and the tips and tricks article covers common pitfalls. The PC version is Steam Deck Verified and supports 16 languages out of the box.5757Online Co-Op at Launch5959Up to four players can team up online in Multiplayer and Co-Op sessions from day one. The co-op model is drop-in friendly: a host opens their world and invites friends from their platform's friend list. There is no crossplay, so a player on Steam cannot join a party on PlayStation 5, and a Switch host cannot invite Xbox players. Each platform's player base is its own pool. Square Glade has confirmed that crossplay is not part of the launch feature set and has not announced it as a post-launch feature, so groups of friends should buy on the same platform if they want to play together. Outbound features no combat, so co-op is built around cooperative exploration, gathering, building, and managing the shared van.6161Launch Week Events6363Square Glade Games and Silver Lining Interactive coordinated a busy launch week of community activity. The studio's social channels and the official Discord were the best places to follow events in real time. Content creators who covered the demo, including several cozy-gaming focused YouTubers and streamers, signaled launch coverage on both waves, and the game received front-page placement on multiple storefronts during release week.6565DayEventWhere to Watch or JoinMonday, May 11Wave 1 launch on PC (Steam, Epic) and Xbox Series X|SSteam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft StoreThursday, May 14Wave 2 launch on PS5, Switch, Switch 2 (physical SKUs ship)PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Tesura Games storeMay 11-17Square Glade community streams and developer Q and A sessionsOfficial Discord, Twitch, YouTubeLaunch periodCreator coverage from cozy gaming channels that previewed the demoTwitch, YouTube, TikTok6767Critical and Player Reception6868Reception in the launch window has been mixed. Critic scores settled into a low-to-mid 60s cluster across a modest sample of reviews, while player sentiment ran warmer: Steam user reviews held at Mostly Positive through the first week. The split is a familiar one for a cozy game, where the relaxed pace and lack of combat that fans enjoy can read as thin or repetitive to reviewers looking for more friction. Common praise centers on the hands-on van building, the calm exploration loop, and the solarpunk art direction, while criticism tends to focus on performance rough edges at launch and a sense that some systems feel light.7070The launch week was also marked by a short-lived controversy over review handling. The developer reached out to a player who had posted a negative Steam review and asked them to take it down, offering a refund in exchange. After the exchange drew public criticism, the studio issued an apology and acknowledged that pressuring a player to remove an honest review was the wrong approach. The episode is worth noting because it shaped some of the early conversation around the game, but it did not change the underlying gameplay, and the studio's stated focus afterward returned to stability fixes and the post-launch update plan.7272Post-Launch Roadmap7474After launch, Square Glade Games shared a seasonal plan for free content updates through the rest of 2026. A summer update is set to add a fishing system with rods, decorative fish tanks, and journal tracking. A fall update is planned to add more animals and wildlife, including flocks of birds, and a winter update is set to expand NPC interactions with dialogue, lore, and side quests. These are seasonal targets rather than fixed dates. Also confirmed is the School Bus Adventures DLC, which is bundled with physical editions and was the stretch goal unlocked during the Kickstarter campaign. The studio has said its first priority after launch is stability and community-reported issues, followed by quality-of-life improvements, which is how the early hotfixes and the 1.0.8 balance pass played out. Crossplay has not been announced. Players tracking updates should watch the version history article for patch notes and future content drops.7676Launch marks the end of a long development journey for Square Glade Games and the start of an active post-launch period driven by the community that kept the project alive from Kickstarter through the demo and into full release.
