Warframe's Developer, Digital Extremes, Unveils Exciting Updates for Warframe 1999 and Soulframe
Digital Extremes, creators of the popular free-to-play looter shooter Warframe, recently showcased exciting new content at TennoCon 2024, including a gameplay demo for the upcoming Warframe: 1999 expansion and a developer stream for their fantasy MMO, Soulframe.
Warframe: 1999 - A Retro Sci-Fi Adventure
The Warframe: 1999 expansion transports players to a 1990s-inspired Höllvania, battling proto-infested enemies as Arthur Nightingale, leader of the Hex team, piloting a Protoframe. A gameplay demo showcased intense action sequences, including a ride on the Atomicycle and a unique encounter with a '90s boy band, now infused with the Infestation. The full song from the demo is available on the Warframe YouTube channel.
The Hex team consists of 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 develop relationships with other Hex members. The expansion launches on all platforms this winter.
A companion animated short, produced in collaboration with The Line animation studio (known for Gorillaz music videos), will be released alongside the expansion.
Soulframe - A Deliberate Melee Combat Experience
The Soulframe Devstream offered a first look at gameplay, introducing the Envoy, tasked with cleansing the Ode curse in the land of Alca. The Warsong Prologue showcased the game's slower, deliberate melee combat system. Players will utilize their Nightfold, a personal Orbiter, to interact with NPCs, craft items, and interact with their wolf mount.
Players will encounter Ancestors, powerful spirits offering unique gameplay benefits (e.g., Verminia, the Rat Witch, aids in crafting and cosmetics), and formidable enemies such as Nimrod and Bromius. Soulframe is currently in a closed alpha phase (Soulframe Preludes) with plans for wider access this fall.
Digital Extremes CEO on the Longevity of Live Service Games
Digital Extremes CEO Steve Sinclair expressed concern regarding the trend of major publishers prematurely abandoning live service games due to initial performance concerns. He highlighted Warframe's decade-long success as a counterpoint, emphasizing the importance of long-term investment and community building. The cancellation of their previous project, The Amazing Eternals, serves as a cautionary tale.
