Digital Extremes, the creators of Warframe, unveiled exciting new details about their free-to-play looter shooter and the upcoming fantasy MMO, Soulframe, at TennoCon 2024. This article delves into the 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, transports players to a 1999-themed Höllvania, a city overrun by the Infestation. Players control Arthur Nightingale, leader of the Hex, utilizing Protoframes – precursors to the main game's Warframes. The objective: locate Dr. Entrati before the New Year.
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The demo featured Arthur using the Atomicycle, combat against proto-infested enemies, and an encounter with a 90s boy band (yes, really!). The demo's soundtrack is available on the Warframe YouTube channel. The expansion launches on all platforms in Winter 2024.
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The Hex, Arthur's team, comprises six members, each with unique roles. While only Arthur is playable in the demo, a novel romance system, utilizing "Kinematic Instant Message," allows players to build relationships with other Hex members, culminating in a potential New Year's Eve kiss.
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Digital Extremes is collaborating with The Line animation studio on an animated short film set within Warframe: 1999's infested world, launching alongside the expansion.
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Soulframe Gameplay Demo – An Open-World Fantasy MMO
The Soulframe Devstream presented a live demo, revealing story and gameplay elements. Players become Envoys, tasked with cleansing the Ode curse plaguing Alca. The Warsong Prologue introduces the game's world. Unlike Warframe's agile combat, Soulframe focuses on slower, deliberate melee. The Nightfold, a personal Orbiter, serves as a central hub for crafting, interacting with NPCs, and caring for a wolf mount.
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Players will encounter Ancestors – spirits of powerful beings providing unique gameplay benefits. Verminia, the Rat Witch, assists with crafting and cosmetic upgrades. Enemies include Nimrod, a lightning-wielding giant, and Bromius, a mysterious beast.
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Soulframe is currently in a closed alpha (Soulframe Preludes) with wider access planned for Fall.
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Digital Extremes CEO on the Perils of Premature Live Service Abandonment
In a VGC interview at TennoCon 2024, Digital Extremes CEO Steve Sinclair voiced concerns about large publishers prematurely abandoning live service games due to initial performance anxieties, citing high operating costs and the fear of declining player numbers. He contrasted this with Warframe's decade-long success, highlighting the importance of long-term commitment to live service titles. The cancellation of their previous multiplayer shooter, The Amazing Eternals, served as a valuable lesson.
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The success of Warframe and the ambitious plans for Soulframe suggest Digital Extremes is setting a new standard for sustained live service engagement.
