Outbound, an indie open-world camper simulator centered on off-grid van life, will launch a closed alpha on April 14.
The cozy survival-crafting game revealed a new trailer as part of the 2025 Triple-I Initiative showcase. Participants in the closed alpha will have the opportunity to explore the plains and forests of the game’s initial biome, and experience four-player co-op. They will also get to try out the game’s building system.
Access to the closed alpha will be granted to players who sign up for the game’s newsletter via the Outbound website. Starting April 14, random subscribers will be chosen to participate in the playtest.
Square Glade Games, the developer, announced in a Steam post that “The closed alpha is an early build of the game and we want to test mechanics and overall stability with a limited number of players.” The developer added, “With a little bit of luck, you can also join!”
According to Square Glade Games, most of the game’s features are present in the alpha, including cooking, vehicle and player upgrades, environmental puzzles, and collectables. Additional features are still in development and are scheduled for release with the full game launch. These include fishing, bee-keeping, more biomes, additional character customization options, a dog companion, and full controller support.
Outbound begins with players in an empty camper van powered by renewable energy. Players can scavenge materials to craft upgrades, making the camper self-sufficient with advanced technology. They can also create gardens of plants for food.
The game raised nearly $300,000 in September 2024 on Kickstarter, prompting Square Glade Games to promise additional features such as fishing and a dog companion. While Outbound lacks an official release date, Kickstarter lists its “estimated delivery” date as January 2026.
Outbound is slated for release on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, with the understanding that the console release date may differ from the PC release date.
