Digital Extremes has revealed Warframe: Tau, the game’s next major update, during this year’s Tennocon Live event. The expansion is planned for release later this year and moves players beyond the long-running Origin system to a new location called Tau.
The reveal trailer introduced Fornax, a ringed city that surrounds one of Tau’s planets and serves as the main setting shown in the demo. According to the report, the area draws inspiration from Blade Runner, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire, and is designed as a mix between Warframe’s older open-world approach and more recent update structures. It will launch with two regions, new mission types, and a new take on the game’s optional Steel Path difficulty.
The demo centered on Brysko, a new detective Warframe voiced by Matthew Mercer. He was shown using the Core Cracker revolver and throwable trading cards, with a dog companion also confirmed for the character. The footage featured streets and tunnels drenched in oily black rain, a substance that appears to revive the dead and leave lasting mental damage on those exposed to it. Another major element in the story is The Bloom, an organic drug-like substance that some Sentients are shown abusing.
Creative director Rebecca Ford said the team wanted to explore addiction and exploitation through the update’s narrative. She described the theme as asking what people are willing to bet, and said the story reflects struggles that some members of the studio have seen firsthand. The reveal also showed a sharp contrast between the suffering in the slums and the wealthier parts of Fornax, including a casino, jazz club imagery, and other signs of luxury. The update will also include a card mini-game tied to the setting’s gambling-heavy atmosphere.
Source: eurogamer.net
