"Warframe": a model of excellent operating model

Warframe Developers, Digital Extremes, brought exciting reveals for their free-to-play looter shooter and their upcoming fantasy MMO, Soulframe. Read on to learn more about gameplay features and what CEO Steve Sinclair had to say about live-service games.

Warframe: 1999 Coming in Winter 2024

Protoframes, Infestations, and Boy Bands

Warframe developers, Digital Extremes, finally unveiled a gameplay demo for Warframe 1999 during TennoCon 2024.

The expansion promises a radical departure from the game's usual sci-fi setting. Gone are the days of sleek Orokin technology. The expansion takes players to Höllvania, a city ravaged by the early stages of the Infestation. Here, they take control of Arthur Nightingale, leader of the Hex, who dons a Protoframe—a forerunner to the Warframes of the main game. The race is on to find Dr. Entrati before the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve.

The demo showcased Arthur riding the Atomicycle, an intense battle against a horde of proto-infested, and a ‘90s boy band.

If you like the song that played during the gameplay demo, you’ll be happy to learn that you can now stream the track in full on the Warframe YouTube channel. If not, you can duke it out with an infested-version of the boy band when the game comes out to all platforms in winter 2024.

Get to Know the Hex

The Hex consists of six members, each with their own characteristics and role on the team. Based on the gameplay demo, you can only play as Arthur Nightingale. However, the new expansion offers a surprising addition: romance.

Warframe: 1999 introduces a unique romance system set against the backdrop of flickering CRT monitors and dial-up connections. Through the power of "Kinematic Instant Message", players can build relationships with each Hex member, unlocking conversations and, ultimately, a chance at a New Year’s Eve kiss.

Warframe Anime

Digital Extremes is partnering with The Line, an animation studio known for producing music videos for the band Gorillaz, to bring fans an animated short set in the infested world of 1999. Not much is known about the short, but the developers confirmed that "when 1999 launches, there will be an animated short to go along with it."

Soulframe Gameplay Demo

An Open-World Fantasy MMO

After months and months of anticipation, Digital Extremes hosted their first Soulframe Devstream, showcasing a live demo packed with new story and gameplay details.

In Soulframe, you’ll be thrust into the role of an Envoy, tasked with the daunting mission of purging the Ode curse that has ravaged the land of Alca. The Devstream provided a glimpse into this story through the Warsong Prologue, serving as an introduction to the game’s world.

Unlike Warframe’s acrobatic gameplay, Soulframe emphasizes a slower, more deliberate melee combat. To help you in your quest, you’ll get your very own pocket Orbiter called the Nightfold, where you can talk to NPCs, craft gear, pet your giant wolf mount, and so on.

Allies and Enemies

Along your journey, you’ll meet Ancestors, spirits of powerful beings you collect throughout the game. Each ancestor has a unique gameplay feature. For instance, Verminia, the Rat Witch, will help you craft consumables and unlock cosmetic upgrades.

Players will also encounter Nimrod, a towering enemy capable of producing lightning attacks from afar, and Bromius, an omen beast teased at the end of the demo.

Soulframe Release Date

Unfortunately, Soulframe isn’t quite ready for everyone to jump in yet. Currently, access is limited to an invite-only closed alpha phase called Soulframe Preludes. Despite this, the developers plan to open the game up to a wider audience this Fall.

Digital Extremes CEO Comments on Short-Lived Live Service Games

Are Big Publishers Giving Up on Live Service Games Too Quickly?

According to a recent interview with VGC during TennoCon 2024, Steve Sinclair, CEO of Digital Extremes, expressed concern about the trend of big companies abandoning live service games after launch struggles.

These games, designed for ongoing content updates and player engagement, often get shut down quickly if initial player numbers fall short.

"Isn’t that a shame" Sinclair said. "You put so many years of your life into iterating on those systems or building technology or building the start of a community, and because the operating costs are high, you get terrified when you see the numbers drop and you leave."

Several high-profile examples back up his point, with games like Anthem, SYNCED, and Crossfire X shutting down a year or two after launch.

In contrast, Warframe has thrived for more than a decade with consistent updates and player engagement. After canceling their multiplayer shooter, The Amazing Eternals, five years ago due to a lack of interest in the closed beta, Digital Extremes is now working hard not to make the same mistake with Soulframe.