Digital Extremes is making its fantasy spin-off of Warframe, Soulframe, more accessible to players. Beginning November 6, the game will enter its "Open Preludes" phase, allowing anyone on PC to try the title for free. This move comes ahead of the game's Verse of the Veilands update, which is also slated for release later in November.
Release Details and New Content
Soulframe Open Preludes will be available directly from the game's website on Windows PC, rather than through platforms like Steam. This marks a significant shift from the game's previous invite-only alpha testing, which typically limited access to select players or groups, often around the time of TennoCon.
Creative director Geoff Crookes stated that the timing for this broader testing is crucial for gathering feedback on new features, particularly the introduction of mounts and world progression systems. The Verse of the Veilands update will introduce new regions to explore and a new character Pact called Ode Shrike. Players will be able to purify these regions and eventually evolve Ode Shrike into Soulframe's first mount, the Omen Wolf, by training and feeding it.
In addition to these new features, Digital Extremes is bringing back the Bita's Eve in-game event for Halloween. This event includes a new mini-boss, Veltruska, a headless horse-rider, and a new enemy called the Sunken Terror.
Commitment to Wider Release
The transition to Open Preludes signifies Digital Extremes' dedication to Soulframe's development and its eventual wider release on Windows PC. While a firm launch date for the full version has not yet been announced, these upcoming testing phases are a significant step toward that goal.