Evidence: Third-party community guides and research; source-reported versions below; not independently playtested.
Find Joe Wild’s network
A community guide reports that Joe Wild introduces the network on day 7 in the tutorial. Take the business card after closing the first network screen, then call 8376 to return. A start that skips the tutorial has access from day 1 and already has the card in the dossier. These timings are a single-source report for v1.0.0.6.
The network is an upgrade screen rather than your rent balance. Reopen it when you have a particular shop improvement or production line in mind, and inspect both the prerequisite and the price shown in your own save. Source: a community guide.
Earn favor and preserve rent money
A community guide says a network purchase spends Wild’s Favor first and covers the remaining price with credits. Favor cannot pay rent, however. Keep enough actual cash aside for the next rent payment even if the network screen shows a large combined purchasing balance.
The source describes several ways to earn favor. On some difficulties, buying and selling generate a share of the trade as favor. Some nightly service fees also return a share, with the percentage depending on difficulty. It additionally reports 40 favor per point of Lower Levels reputation earned outside trades. Do not assume every service returns favor or that every difficulty gives trade favor.
Compare the cost of an ongoing service with its use in your shop. A favor refund is not the same as cash income: the fee still needs credits, and favor remains restricted to network purchases. Source: a community guide, single-source report.
Production upgrades and base prices
community lists these base prices for selected production paths. They are not final quotes: the guide says difficulty, starting perks and a reputation discount can modify prices, and some repeat purchases increase in price. Check the offer in your save before committing.
| Upgrade | Base price | Purpose or prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| Water Trading | 300 | Water production path; prerequisite for Aquaculture |
| Retired Farmer | 350 | Farming supplier; prerequisite for Plant Genetics |
| Plant Genetics | 1,250 | DNA equipment; requires Retired Farmer |
| Retired Chemist | 1,000 | Chemistry production path |
| Aquaculture | 400 | Fish farming; requires Water Trading |
The Aquaculture unlock provides a starter kit and a recurring supplier, according to a community guide. Water Trading comes first, so budget for the prerequisite as well as the upgrade. See Aquaculture, Pure Water, Hydroponics, DNA Manipulator and Chemistry for the work each path requires. Source: a community guide.
When comparing prices, distinguish the base figure in the table from the amount the screen asks you to pay after your run’s modifiers. The reported favor-first rule changes how that amount is split between balances; it does not turn favor into rent money. Review both balances before confirming an upgrade. Source: a community guide.
What should you buy first?
A community guide recommends Showcase Expansion I first, followed by Buyer Referral Service, then one production line you intend to use. Its reasoning is that the showcase expands buyer capacity, while the referral brings another buyer but carries a nightly fee. The guide then suggests choosing a line such as water, farming, winemaking or chemistry rather than buying every option at once.
That is the source’s suggested order, not a guarantee of profit in every run. Consider your available battery, stock, time and cash before choosing a production chain. A cheaper base unlock may lead to additional equipment or operating needs; inspect the actual purchase screen and the related guide. The Vending Machine has its own reported price disagreement between guides. Source: a community guide.
Advanced upgrades
Show store ownership spoiler
A community guide reports that the Advanced tab appears after buying the store and includes Hypertech Smuggler. See Hypertech in Crafting for the referral and its stock.
Source: a community guide, single-source report.
Frequently asked questions
When does Wild’s Network unlock?
a community guide reports a day 7 introduction in the tutorial, or availability from day 1 when the tutorial is skipped.
How do I reopen the network?
After the introduction, take Joe Wild’s business card and call 8376. A skipped-tutorial start already has the card in the dossier.
Can Wild’s Favor pay rent?
a community guide says favor is used for network upgrades and cannot pay rent; retain credits for rent.
Why is my upgrade price different from the table?
The listed amounts are base prices. A community guide reports difficulty, starting perks and a reputation discount can change the actual price.
Compare the reported Ranching unlock and its version-specific base price in Rat Ranching.