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Roadside Research has two broad upgrade tracks: station improvements for growing the gas-station business, and alien technology for processing data and gathering information. The available catalog changes with game updates, and the official sources do not publish one complete, current list of every upgrade, cost, and prerequisite—so treat specific names and prices found elsewhere as leads to verify in your game.
How upgrades work in Roadside Research
Roadside Research, developed by Cybernetic Walrus and published by Oro Interactive, is a one-to-four-player co-op gas-station simulator. Its official Steam listing and publisher page describe two complementary goals: improve the station to attract customers, and upgrade alien technology to make data processing and information gathering more effective. Steam’s official listing and Oro Interactive’s game page establish that broad structure, but not a complete upgrade tree.
Station upgrades
Station improvements serve the business side of play: making the gas station more appealing and expanding or improving its services. A third-party guide, Digital Phablet, names examples including pump and store expansions, self-service payment, self-checkout, product categories, decorations, and seating. These are candidate examples, not a verified list of everything currently available.
Alien-technology upgrades
The other track supports research and information gathering. Digital Phablet names examples such as Trash Bag, Trashcan, Auto-Trashcan, Camera, Photobooth, CCTV, Prober, Goop Sucker, Automatic Surface Scrubber, and Replicator. The official descriptions support the existence of an alien-technology path, but do not confirm that this secondary list is complete or current.
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What changed in the August 2026 update
The official Steam Community announcement for the August 18, 2026 Abduction Update describes several additions that affect the systems around progression and automation:
- Invasion Stage 1, with an Abductor Tablet and Abduction Platform.
- A Distractor Spawner.
- The Fully Automated Restocking Technician (F.A.R.T.) and a battery system for automation upgrades.
- Placeable walls and a Universal Box, among other features.
Read the official Steam Community announcement for the update details. These are update additions, not a complete list of upgrades or proof that every item is available under the same conditions in every current version.
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How to choose what to upgrade first
There is no evidence-backed universal best purchase order: exact prices, prerequisites, and effects for a consolidated current tree are not established by the available official sources. Instead, use your immediate bottleneck to decide which track to inspect first.
- If the business is holding you back: check the station options currently unlocked and compare what each says it improves, such as customer appeal, capacity, or service.
- If research or information gathering is holding you back: inspect the alien-technology options and prioritize an upgrade whose stated effect addresses that specific obstacle.
- If you want automation: check its unlock requirements and power or battery needs in your version before spending resources; the August 2026 update specifically introduced a battery system for automation upgrades.
This is a decision framework, not a tested strategy or claim that any named purchase is optimal. Read the live in-game description and prerequisites before committing.
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Why a definitive list of every upgrade is difficult to give
The official Steam listing and publisher page describe the two upgrade paths at a high level, while the August 18, 2026 announcement documents a particular update rather than publishing a full catalog. Digital Phablet provides additional names and some prices or effects, but does not establish that its list is exhaustive or current. Because the game continues to receive updates, an online list can become incomplete or outdated.
For that reason, this guide identifies the supported structure and notable update additions rather than presenting unverified prices or prerequisites as current facts. Check the upgrade interface in your installed version for the authoritative options available to your save.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
