Digital Extremes Unveils Ambitious Plans for Warframe's Future

Digital Extremes, the creators of Warframe, unveiled exciting updates for their free-to-play looter shooter and their upcoming fantasy MMO, Soulframe, at TennoCon 2024. This article delves into the key reveals, showcasing gameplay features and CEO Steve Sinclair's perspective on the live-service game model.

Warframe: 1999 – Arriving Winter 2024

Warframe: 1999, showcased via a gameplay demo, dramatically shifts the franchise's sci-fi setting to a 1999-inspired Höllvania, infested and gritty. Players control Arthur Nightingale, leader of the Hex, utilizing Protoframes – precursors to the familiar Warframes. The objective? Find Dr. Entrati before the New Year. The demo featured intense action sequences, including an Atomicycle chase and a battle against infested enemies, even a 90s boy band! The demo's soundtrack is now available on the Warframe YouTube channel.

The Hex team comprises six members, each with unique traits. While only Arthur is playable in the demo, a novel romance system, utilizing "Kinematic Instant Message," allows players to cultivate relationships with Hex members, potentially leading to a New Year's Eve kiss.

Further enhancing the experience, Digital Extremes partnered with The Line animation studio (Gorillaz music video creators) to produce an animated short film accompanying the game's launch.

Soulframe Gameplay Demo – An Open-World Fantasy MMO

The Soulframe Devstream offered a first look at gameplay and narrative. Players embody an Envoy, tasked with cleansing Alca from the Ode curse. The Warsong Prologue introduces the world and its slower, deliberate melee combat style. Players utilize a personalized Nightfold, a mobile base for crafting, interacting with NPCs, and even petting a wolf mount.

Encounters with Ancestors, spirits granting unique abilities (like Verminia, the Rat Witch, who aids in crafting and cosmetics), and formidable foes such as Nimrod (lightning attacks) and Bromius (a mysterious beast) await. Currently in a closed alpha phase (Soulframe Preludes), wider access is planned for this Fall.

Digital Extremes CEO on the Short Lifespan of Live Service Games

In a VGC interview, CEO Steve Sinclair voiced concerns about large publishers prematurely abandoning live service games due to initial performance anxieties. He emphasized the significant investment of time and resources, arguing that abandoning projects due to fluctuating player numbers is short-sighted. He cited examples like Anthem, SYNCED, and Crossfire X as cautionary tales, contrasting them with Warframe's decade-long success. This experience informs their approach to Soulframe, aiming to avoid repeating past mistakes.