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Signal Towers - Version 4 vs Version 5
May 6, 2026, 10:02 PM
Embedded gameplay screenshot to support reader context
May 20, 2026, 07:40 AM
Added a Your First Tower section (the opening tower is free and gives the wrench, build hammer, and homing boots; later towers cost vouchers and offer a pick-one choice such as axe, pickaxe, or sickle) and a Scrap Metal Around Towers section explaining that scrap respawns near each tower every one to two days, which supports setting up collection routes
11Overview22Signal Towers are structures found throughout the world of Outbound that serve as the primary method for unlocking new crafting recipes, workstations, and building components. Players spend Download Vouchers (earned from the recycling system) to download blueprints from Signal Towers. Each tower offers a selection of blueprint options, and the available choices can vary from player to player, making every playthrough feel distinct.55Signal Towers are scattered across the game's biomes, encouraging exploration as players seek out new towers to expand their technology tree. They function as progression gates, rewarding players who explore widely and recycle consistently.77How Signal Towers Work99When a player approaches a Signal Tower, they can interact with it to view the available blueprints. Each blueprint has a Download Voucher cost, and the player selects which blueprint to download. Once a blueprint is downloaded, the corresponding crafting recipe, workstation plan, or building component design is permanently added to the player's known recipes.1111The process follows these steps:1313Approach a Signal Tower in the world.Interact with the tower to open its blueprint menu.Browse the available blueprint options and their voucher costs.Select a blueprint and confirm the download.The new recipe is added to your crafting menu immediately.1515Players cannot download every blueprint from a single tower. Each tower offers a limited set of options, so visiting multiple towers across different biomes is necessary to build a comprehensive recipe collection.1717Your First Tower19+The very first Signal Tower, in the opening tutorial area, costs nothing to use. Its download has no voucher requirement and hands you the starter kit: the build hammer, the homing boots, and the wrench. Every tower after that charges Download Vouchers, and most present a short menu where you pick a single option. An early example is a choice between the axe, the pickaxe, and the sickle for one voucher. You only take one tool from that prompt, so choose the one that fits what you want to do next and pick up the others at other towers or when this one refreshes later.21+Blueprint Selection1923Most Signal Towers provide multiple blueprint options to choose from. Players must decide which blueprints to prioritize based on their current needs and playstyle. For example, a tower might offer a choice between a new workstation for automation, a building module for the camper van, or an advanced farming tool.2125This selection mechanic adds a strategic layer to progression. Players who focus on farming blueprints early will develop their farming capabilities sooner, while those who prioritize crafting or building unlock different advantages. Since towers refresh over time, missed blueprints may become available again later.2327Randomized Options2529One of the defining features of Signal Towers is that the blueprint options they offer can vary from player to player. This randomization means that two players visiting the same tower may see different blueprints available for download. The variation extends across playthroughs as well, so starting a new game may present different progression paths depending on which blueprints appear at early towers.2731This design choice encourages replayability and makes each playthrough feel fresh. It also adds value to co-op play, where players can pool their discoveries and share unlocked recipes.2933Refresh Mechanics3135Signal Towers can refresh with new signals over time. After a player has downloaded a blueprint from a tower, the tower may eventually receive new blueprint options that were not available during the previous visit. This refresh mechanic rewards return visits and gives players a reason to revisit towers they have already used.3337The exact refresh timing may vary. Players should check previously visited towers periodically, especially after progressing further in the game or moving to a new biome. Refreshed towers are a valuable source of late-game blueprints that may not appear on first discovery.3539Multiplayer Sharing3741In co-op sessions, Signal Tower unlocks are shared across all players in the group. When one player downloads a blueprint from a tower, every player in the session receives the recipe. This sharing mechanic means that the group does not need to visit every tower together or spend duplicate vouchers on the same blueprint.3943Shared unlocks encourage a collaborative approach to exploration. Players can split up and visit different towers, then reconvene at the van with a combined set of new recipes. This is especially effective in the mid-game when players have accumulated enough Download Vouchers to make multiple purchases across the map.4145Signal Towers and Progression4347Signal Towers are the backbone of Outbound's progression system. The loop of exploring, collecting trash, recycling for vouchers, and spending vouchers at towers forms the game's core progression arc. Without Signal Towers, players would be limited to their starting recipes and could not access advanced workstations, building modules, or automation components.4549Blueprint TypeDescriptionExample UsesCrafting recipesNew items that can be created at workstationsTools, furniture, decorationsWorkstation plansNew workstations for specialized craftingAdvanced cooking stations, automation componentsBuilding componentsModules and parts for the camper vanRoof expansions, storage upgradesFarming toolsEquipment for crop cultivationIrrigation systems, planters51+Scrap Metal Around Towers52+Signal Towers double as reliable Scrap Metal nodes. Loose scrap is scattered on the ground around every tower you discover, and it respawns within that radius every one to two in-game days after you sleep. Because scrap is needed in large amounts for tools, upgrades, and repairs throughout the game, this turns each discovered tower into a fixed, predictable harvesting stop rather than a one-time visit.54+A practical habit is to mark the towers you have found and string them into a collection route. Drive from tower to tower picking up whatever has respawned, sleep, and the next cycle refills the same points while you keep exploring. Players who set up routes early tend to reach the mid and late game with a comfortable surplus instead of having to backtrack and farm scrap at the worst possible moment.56+Tips for Signal Tower Exploration4858Explore every biome thoroughly. Signal Towers are placed throughout the world, and some are tucked away in less obvious locations.Prioritize blueprints that match your immediate needs. If you need better resources processing, pick workstation plans first.Return to towers you have already visited. They may have refreshed with new blueprint options since your last visit.In co-op, split up to visit different towers. Unlocks are shared, so covering more ground means more recipes for everyone.Save some Download Vouchers for late-game towers. Advanced blueprints in remote biomes tend to have higher costs.Look for Signal Towers near landmarks. Points of interest often have a tower nearby.
