The concept of survival in a relaxed atmosphere is interesting, and Square Glade Games and Silver Lining Games are making it a reality with Outbound.
In Outbound, you start with an empty camper van and set off alone or with up to four other players on a journey to scavenge, craft, and build your dream home while adapting to the changing environment. Outbound is a “cozyvival,” a term the developers coined after Alpha testing when they stepped back and examined what players enjoyed. They discovered that players fell in love with the satisfying survival mechanics, such as managing energy, gathering materials, and growing food, combined with the cozy, low-pressure atmosphere of living in the van. Other titles tend to lean further into one end of the spectrum or the other, but Square Glade Games felt that “cozyvival” perfectly expresses the balance that their players enjoy. That’s the sweet spot where Outbound is found.
As a solo player, Outbound provides a wonderful off-grid experience where you gather resources and build your camper van at your own pace. You’re the captain of your own ship, so to speak, which gives you a sense of calm and empowerment. Outbound can also be played with up to three friends, but it significantly changes the experience. With others along for the ride, friendly cooperation can transform Outbound into a high-energy road trip, much like road trips with friends in real life. The developers loved seeing that energy change, so while multiplayer is not required, it is a key addition from their perspective. They also took advantage of the PlayStation Portal because the PlayStation ecosystem is Portal-ready without any optimization. They love the idea of a group of friends sitting together with Portal devices and playing together.
“Part of the inspiration for Outbound came from a road trip I took from Germany to the Netherlands. I saw a beautiful old-school camper van driving by a field of solar panels and windmills. At that point, we were in the prototyping stage, and this moment sparked the idea of building it around an electric van with sustainability in mind. Thus, sustainability is a major theme woven into the design. Sun, wind, and rain are key sources of energy, and recycling litter earns you new blueprints for van upgrades. These are just a couple of the ways that Outbound highlights sustainability through gameplay. We also incorporate sustainability aesthetically. For example, we depict sailboats on the horizon instead of massive tankers and cargo ships,” said co-founder Tobi Schnackenberg.
Outbound was previously announced for Xbox Series and PC but will also be available on PlayStation 5. The release is expected sometime in 2026.
