Digital Extremes opened Soulframe's pre-alpha test to a fresh wave of players during TennoCon 2024. Soulframe: Preludes now accepts new participants, allowing interested players to experience the fantasy-themed successor to Warframe without paying anything upfront.
The studio behind Warframe is building Soulframe as a free-to-play experience that pivots away from the sci-fi aesthetic of its predecessor. Early access participants get hands-on time with the game's core systems during this extended pre-alpha phase. TennoCon, Digital Extremes' annual fan celebration, served as the venue for this expansion.
Digital Extremes structured Soulframe's development around community feedback. The Preludes pre-alpha acts as a testing ground where the studio gathers player data on combat, progression, and monetization before a wider launch. This approach mirrors how the studio built Warframe over more than a decade, iterating based on what millions of players actually wanted.
Warframe remains one of gaming's most successful live-service shooters, consistently pulling substantial player counts across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Soulframe represents the studio's ambition to replicate that success in a different genre. The fantasy setting, melee-focused combat, and mythological inspirations differentiate it from Warframe's fast-paced space ninja gameplay.
The timing of TennoCon access expansions reflects industry practice. Studios use fan events and conventions to spike player counts, gather metrics, and generate word-of-mouth momentum. Digital Extremes invited additional testers before the event, knowing the convention would amplify interest among the existing Warframe community.
Players already participating in Soulframe: Preludes will continue their progress. New players starting during TennoCon jump into the same servers and progression systems,