Cozy Road Trip Adventure ‘Outbound’ Arrives on PS5 – PlayStation Blog

Hey there, folks. It’s Square Glade Games! Guess what? Outbound, our cozy little open-world adventure, is heading to PlayStation 5. Whether you’re flying solo or rolling with a crew of up to four, you’re starting off with just an empty camper van. Then, it’s scavenge, craft, and create your dream pad as life and nature around you shift and change. Neat, right?

I’m Marc Volger, one of the brains behind this operation (Square Glade, that is), popping in to give you a sneak peek. Oh, and Tobi Schnackenberg, my partner in crime—or creativity—is here too, to spill some secrets about what sparked Outbound.

So, “cozyvival”—yeah, it’s a weird, new word but it works. We coined it after our Alpha run and realized everyone was vibing with both the survival stuff—managing energy, gathering, growing your own munchies—and the laid-back van life. Most games pick a side, but Outbound’s all about balance. You either get it or… you don’t. Which is cool. Whatever.

Go solo or squad up — what’s your jam?

If you’re all about the solo life, Outbound’s got that off-the-grid feel, it’s just you, Mother Nature, and your van. So calm. So empowering. But chuck in some friends, and whoa—the vibe flips into this wild road trip frenzy. Like those chaotic but memorable road trips IRL. Multiplayer’s not necessary, but it’s kinda epic.

And hello, PS5 magic, am I right? No crazy optimizations needed for PlayStation Portal. Imagine, a bunch of pals huddled up with their Portal gadgets, playing together. It’s the dream, really. Might even fit for an actual road trip. Go figure.

Fueled by inspiration (and maybe snacks)

Let’s talk about how Outbound got its buzz. Tobi had his aha moment during a trip from Germany to the Netherlands. Picture it: a vintage camper by solar panels and windmills. Bam! The electric van concept with a sustainability twist was born.

Sustainability’s not just a buzzword for us. It’s baked into Outbound—sun, wind, rain are your energy pals. Recycling trash gets you new van upgrade blueprints. It’s all about showing off how sustainability can be fun—you see sailboats, not those massive cargo behemoths. Little things, right?

Paws and feels

Oh, if you dig dogs, you’re in luck. You get a dog buddy in Outbound. And yes, you can pet them! Not just for cute points, either. Teach your furry friend to fetch goodies and carry stuff back to your ride. They’re like your sidekick, not just a fuzzy face.

So there you have it. Video games can thrust us into fantastical worlds—dragons, magic, what have you—or they can bring us closer to reality, which is where Outbound slots in. We can’t wait to set you off on this journey when we hit PS5.

Catch you later, adventurers!