Digital Extremes recently hosted a press exclusive TennoCon 2023 preview event that Wccftech was invited to, featuring Warframe and Soulframe.
Warframe is turning ten this year, having originally launched in 2013 for PC. Users are getting some limited-edition Heirloom Collections: unique skins for Frost and Mag designed by original Art Director Michael Brennan (AKA Mynki), released with an entirely new class of cosmetic customization, the Signa, which is for helmets.
Most important, though, was the roadmap of future Warframe updates. The first one to land in October is Abyss of Dagath, which is set to deliver the 54th Warframe, a new weapon, seasonal Halloween-themed content, and several quality-of-life enhancements including a companion rework that will remove permadeath.
The big update is called Whispers in the Walls. Planned to launch at some point in the Winter season (still in 2023, mind you), it is said to set off an epic new narrative for the game, featuring a cinematic storyline that will answer questions players have had since the very beginning of Warframe.
The TennoCon preview didn't include everything demonstrated today at the actual show. However, what we saw began with Loid, the loyal Necraloid servant of the Entrati family, asking for the player's help. Loid says he has dreamed (something that shouldn't really be possible for a construct) of a name: Kalymos.
We quickly learn that it was actually a precept called The Kalymos Sequence. It requires Loid to wake the so-called Sleeper, a mysterious character that willingly went to sleep a long time ago. Loid says that his Master Entrati never completed his final project called Vessels. They cannot awaken until the Sleeper does.
This Warframe update adds a hub expansion into the Necralisk, where players will essentially find abandoned Entrati Labs with new game modes, new enemies, and new factions. The developers confirmed a new Syndicate, new boss fights, and new vendors. They likened the update to Angels of the Zariman for what it brings to the game, albeit the tone here will be very different.
One of the primary forces encountered here is that of Necramechs, which are getting new units, both ranged and melee. Digital Extremes picked this faction because it didn't make sense to use Grineer or Corpus here. They're also a bit of a hybrid between those two factions, having access to both energy abilities like EMPs and weapons. Necramech fights will be made more accessible, at any rate; no new Necramechs will be available for players, though.
The demo showcased a new secondary weapon as well: the Grimoire, a book that channels Void energy and has an alternate fire. This will be moddable just like other weapons. The developers are even adding some interaction with the environments, as it'll be possible to shoot vials to damage nearby foes.
The Whispers in the Walls update will also introduce a brand new Global Illumination based lighting. In the Q&A portion of the press event, I asked whether it would be applied to other areas as well. Rebecca Ford replied that it'll be exclusive to the new tileset for now, but the intention is to expand it to the rest of the game, though it may take some time.
Later this year, Warframe users can also look forward to the arrival of a long-awaited feature: cross-save. There's no exact ETA yet, but it's coming at last.
That's not to say 2024 looks any less interesting, thanks to the confirmation that Warframe Mobile is on the way. Digital Extremes aims to offer the same type of experience available on PCs and consoles. iOS users can already register their interest here.
Additionally, Digital Extremes is planning a major update next year called Warframe: 1999. It'll take players back to the very beginning of the game, emphasizing classic hack-and-slash action, discovering who Arthur is in the original Excalibur suit, and boasting a licensed track from Nine Inch Nails.
It's clear that the Canadian developer still plans to continue improving its premiere game, even ten years after the launch.
WccftechContinue reading/original-link]
