What's the significance of the "outskirts"?

[praxiq]

I've noticed that the game informs me when I'm "Entering the outskirts," and the map as well indicates which areas are the outskirts. I can't tell, however, what significance this is supposed to have to the gameplay! I figured the outskirts might have fewer resources, or more common fights, or fewer blueprints, or more blueprints, or something that makes them different, but I'm not finding it. I'm up to level 5 and...

Ok, so I just I went to check the map once more before complaining that the outskirts don't seem any different at all, and I did notice one small thing - so far, all the Down staircases/elevators have been in the outskirts. Is that the only significance? It's a hint that you're on the right track to find the next level? (It might also have interesting implications from a worldbuilding perspective...)

[nroutasuo]

Correct, the next staircase tends to in the Outskirts. In addition to that, you can sometimes find slightly harder enemies, higher level hazards, and different blueprints. If you find a blueprint piece in/outside of the Outskirts, then the rest of the pieces for that same blueprint are likely to be in/outside of the Outskirts as well.

I plan to expand this concept to more distinct districts in the next version.