The Old Lighthouse is a weathered coastal tower standing atop the rocky cliffs of The Coast biome in Outbound. It is one of three big landmarks confirmed for the coastal region, and it stands out as a focal point visible from a considerable distance across the shoreline. The structure serves as a vital navigation marker for ships travelling the nearby sea traffic routes, and for players it anchors one of the most scenic corners of the map.
Overview
The Old Lighthouse was added to the game during the closed beta on 15 October 2025 as part of patch v0.7.6, the update that introduced The Coast as the second playable biome. It is one of the headline points of interest in that region and was prominently featured in the gameplay trailer that debuted during the Xbox @ gamescom 2025 showcase. Like the other big coastal sites, the lighthouse gives travelling vanlifers something to aim for when rolling down the winding coastal roads, and it provides a clear visual anchor that helps with orientation when the winding cliffside terrain begins to blur together.
Beyond its role as a pretty view, the lighthouse fits into the broader design of The Coast, where the biome combines tropical shores, rocky cliffs, and lush forests into a single coherent region. Redwood trees climb skyward beyond the beach line, palm trees cluster on the sand, and the lighthouse itself caps the whole picture by sitting on the highest cliff face along the shore.
Location
The Old Lighthouse sits on the coastal cliffs of The Coast biome, in the zone where tropical shorelines give way to sheer rocky headlands. The surrounding area is characterised by small beach coves, tidal rock formations, and winding coastal roads that weave along the cliff edge. Reaching the lighthouse usually involves following one of these cliffside routes in the camper van, then approaching the tower on foot once the road ends or narrows near the headland.
Because the tower is so tall and exposed, it can be spotted from much of the biome, which makes it a practical navigation aid while exploring the coastline on foot or behind the wheel. If you get turned around while driving the winding coastal road, orienting the van toward the lighthouse is an easy way to re-establish your bearings.
The Cliffside Setting
The headland that hosts the lighthouse is a dramatic piece of terrain. Sheer rock faces drop from the cliff top to the waves below, and the approach winds between exposed outcrops and patches of coastal vegetation. The combination of elevation and open sightlines gives the lighthouse its reputation as a visible landmark and also makes the final climb feel genuinely earned. The nearby beaches, tidal pools, and caves that make up the rest of the coastline are all within reasonable travel range of the tower, so the lighthouse works well as a base point for a wider exploration loop along this stretch of The Coast.
Landmark Progression Mechanic
From patch v0.7.6 onward, the landmarks of Outbound are tied to a shared progression mechanic. Each big point of interest, including the Old Lighthouse, contains an encrypted terminal that requires a three-step verification to unlock. To open a terminal, players need to track down hidden key items scattered around the landmark and its immediate surroundings, then bring them back to activate the download. Completing this puzzle rewards new blueprints that expand what you can craft and build back at the van.
This ties the lighthouse into the wider building system progression, since blueprint rewards are the main long term gain from landmark exploration. Alongside the Fire Lookout in The Outdoors, the Old Lighthouse is one of the go-to sites for players who want to broaden their crafting options during the beta.
Role in Coastal Navigation Lore
In the world of Outbound, the lighthouse is described as a vital landmark for ships navigating the nearby sea traffic routes. That framing gives the tower a concrete purpose within the setting: the coastal waters around this part of the map are busy enough to warrant a permanent beacon, and the cliff top location is the obvious choice because of how far the light can reach. While most of the game is about a utopian near future where players rebuild their lives on the road, small touches like this ground the world and suggest that life continues beyond the van, with commerce and travel still moving up and down the coast.
Views From the Headland
Because the lighthouse sits at the highest point on this stretch of coastline, the headland around its base already offers one of the best views in The Coast biome. Looking out from the cliff edge you can see the open sea stretching to the horizon, the palm-lined beaches curving below, and the wider cliff system folding back toward the redwood forests inland. Combined with the game's dynamic weather and day night cycle, the lighthouse turns into a very different landmark depending on the time of day: a stark silhouette at dawn, a bright beacon under noon sun, and a distant outline against sunset colours as you roll back toward camp.
Beta Introduction and Gamescom Reveal
The Old Lighthouse was first shown to the public in the Coast biome trailer that Square Glade Games debuted during the Xbox @ gamescom 2025 livestream in August 2025. The trailer was the first proper look at the second biome and gave players a sense of how The Coast would differ from the earlier forest and meadow regions. A few weeks later, on 15 October 2025, the beta launched with patch v0.7.6 and made The Coast, including the lighthouse, playable for the first time. The update arrived alongside a long list of other additions, including the dog companion system, a journal feature, night-time driving, new materials, and expanded controller support.
For context, Outbound is a cozy open-world exploration and crafting game from Square Glade Games, originally funded on Kickstarter and set to launch on 23 April 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The coast biome reveal was a major moment in that road to launch, and the lighthouse became one of the most recognisable images associated with the trailer.
Quick Facts
Detail | Information |
|---|---|
Landmark Type | Big landmark (1 of 3 confirmed on The Coast) |
Biome | |
Setting | Top of coastal cliffs, near beach coves and tidal rock formations |
Reward | New crafting blueprints via the encrypted terminal |
Unlock Method | Three step verification: collect hidden key items and activate the terminal |
Added In | Beta v0.7.6 (15 October 2025), see Version History |
First Public Reveal | Xbox @ gamescom 2025 showcase (August 2025) |
Visiting Tips
A few practical notes for players planning a trip to the Old Lighthouse during the beta or at launch.
Park smart. The headland around the lighthouse is steep, so find a wide verge along the coastal road before the final climb and leave the camper van somewhere you can safely return to.
Top up your energy before heading out. Searching for the three verification key items around the landmark can take a while and you do not want to run out of stamina on the cliff path.
Bring the dog companion along if you have one. A loyal scout makes it easier to carry loot back from the lighthouse to the van.
Watch the weather. The cliff edge is more forgiving in daylight than at night, so try to time your first visit for a clear morning or midday if you are still learning the terrain.
Loop your route. Since the lighthouse is one of three big coast landmarks, plan a day trip that chains several sites together rather than driving back and forth for each one individually.
Related Landmarks
The Old Lighthouse is part of a wider network of points of interest spread across the two currently playable biomes of Outbound. These sites work together to reward exploration with new blueprints, story beats, and scenic views.
Landmark | Biome | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Elevated watchtower with blueprints unlocked via the landmark terminal puzzle. | ||
Scenic windmill linked to the in world story of its former owner. | ||
Former farmstead that serves as a mid game exploration hub. | ||
Secluded forest cabin tucked deep inside the redwood tree line. | ||
Elevated forest hut reachable from the main trail system. | ||
High altitude outpost that extends exploration into rougher terrain. |
For a full map level view of where the lighthouse fits among the other regions, see Map and Regions and the broader exploration guide. Players new to the game may also want to read Tips and Tricks and the Beginners Guide before attempting the lighthouse climb.