When is the Soulframe launch date? The upcoming fantasy MMORPG from the creators behind Warframe has been on our minds because it was first introduced in 2022. There’s nonetheless little recognized in regards to the venture, aside from that it’s a lovely open-world recreation set in a pure setting, and revolving round themes of local weather change and environmental destruction, so after all we needed to discover out extra.
Throughout our time at Tennocon 2023, we caught a glimpse into the world of Soulframe, which definitely appears to be like and feels very totally different from its sister, Warframe. Right here’s every thing we all know in regards to the MMORPG for the time being, and boy does it seem like it’ll be one.
Soulframe launch date hypothesis
The Soulframe launch date is slated for late 2024, as soon as this 12 months’s Warframe growth is out of the way in which.
Challenge lead Steve Sinclair tweeted in August 2022 that he hoped the crew “can do some closed alpha stuff subsequent 12 months”. This might imply {that a} handful of gamers will have the ability to get their arms on the sport within the subsequent few months, although there is no such thing as a information on this but.
There will even be common improvement streams to maintain gamers excited, as confirmed in an interview. Inventive Director Geoff Crookes advised us, “Whereas we don’t have a launch date or window to share right now, we do plan to maintain gamers engaged by periodically internet hosting improvement streams that may provide data and perception into our groups’ progress.”
Soulframe trailers
The Soulframe reveal trailer was the principle spotlight of Tennocon 2022, exhibiting off Digital Extremes’ subsequent main venture. As a purely cinematic trailer, no precise gameplay footage was proven. Nevertheless, it does give some perception into how the sport will differentiate itself from the developer’s earlier video games, together with Warframe.
Whereas the official cinematic trailer continues to be the one trailer obtainable, in case you’re excited by figuring out extra in regards to the improvement of the sport, the developer kick-off video beneath may scratch the itch left by such minimal data.
Soulframe gameplay
Soulframe is a stark distinction to the motion we’ve come to know and love in Warframe. As a substitute of going for fast-paced lightning-style motion, the crew wished to essentially gradual issues down and actually let you consider each motion. There’s a variety of dodging and parrying, but additionally an entire slew of various fight mechanics, too.
Within the Tennocon 2023 demo, we see our character throw their sword at an enemy, just for it to come back zooming again like a boomerang. There are additionally three totally different talent timber (Braveness, Grace, Spirit) that permit you to change into extra tanky, extra agile, or, alternatively, use nature-based magic. There are spells that seem to show enemies to stone, in addition to the same old fireballs and ground-shattering earthquakes.
It’s also possible to use the setting to your benefit, with the power to kick enemies off of excessive buildings and into chasms. And, if that doesn’t do it for you, you too can summon an enormous wolf that tears your enemies asunder. Oh, and you too can journey the wolf, by the way in which, so there’s that.
Inventive director Geoff Crookes has additionally given The Publish some perception into the place you could be touring outdoors of the hub space. In line with Crookes, “the world itself is just a little indignant about what’s been achieved to it, and the grounds beneath are likely to shift all through the day”. When it comes to gameplay, because of this dungeons are, certainly, procedural.
As you enterprise by these situations you’ll encounter Wandering Souls, that are spirits whose virtues you’ll be able to equip as successfully a fourth spell slot. These will help you navigate by dungeons by opening new doorways and pathways, or present fight advantages like burning weapons.
Considered one of my favourite options, although, is that you simply work together with the world by enjoying music on what seems to be a panpipe. Taking part in sure notes will offer you the chance to view echoes of occasions passed by, supplying you with perception into how the world
Soulframe setting and story
Soulframe follows a rogue Ode, or sky folks. We’re not sure why our character has determined to desert the Ode, however the group seems to be corrupting the world round it. We meet the mysterious Woman Deora, a determine who seems to have been corrupted by the Ode and turned towards nature. How we all know her is unclear, and what occurs to her as soon as she has been ‘purified’ additionally stays a thriller.
What we do know is that our character seems to have been despatched by a mysterious ‘Empress,’ to whom the once-corrupted stag, Garren bows. You might be described as an ‘envoy,’ however your function on the planet stays unclear.
Both manner, it’s clear that the sport is, to borrow DE’s phrases, “closely influenced by themes of nature, restoration, and exploration.” In contrast to Warframe’s futuristic places and characters, the world of Soulframe traits extra in direction of fantasy and magic, however isn’t significantly grimdark in nature. There are nonetheless hints that Soulframe gained’t fully stray from sci-fi although, with character designs nonetheless retaining some futuristic components, just like the participant’s bionic arm and an enormous spaceship-style construction that’s seen within the latter half of the Tennocon 2023 demo.
That theme of nature is obvious from the trailer, too, because the participant each helps animals and groups up with them in battle, as we see through the loading screens and the small chicken familiars that may information you thru the dungeons. In an interview with the Washington Publish, the Soulframe crew names Princess Mononoke and The NeverEnding Story as inspirations for the sport. With a heavy deal with environmentalism within the former, then, maybe the story may sort out the topic of environmental destruction, amongst different themes.
On the official Soulframe Twitter feed, extra of this theme of nature and wildlife will be seen in a collection of more moderen photographs, that includes the likes of lovely deer and luxurious elk, Garren, that we see make an look after the boss battle.
As for its hyperlinks to Warframe, in a “Warframe / Soulframe Transition Stream”, the crew states that, whereas each titles usually are not in the identical universe, they’re engaged on easter eggs and different connections to tie each video games collectively. Whereas Soulframe is neither a prequel or sequel to Warframe, the developer hopes that these connections at the very least give followers of the free PC recreation one thing to look out for, with Crookes telling us, “Warframe gamers will discover some similarities to sure appears to be like or selections.”
Soulframe platforms and crossplay
No launch platforms for Soulframe have been revealed presently. Based mostly on the discharge historical past for Warframe although, a PC launch is sort of assured. Console variations are tougher to nail down, although current-gen PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S releases appear to be a given.
With no launch platforms, it’s additionally unknown whether or not Soulframe will help crossplay. For the longest time, Warframe had no type of crossplay applied in any respect. This modified with the sport’s launch on PS5, permitting cross-gen play between present and last-gen PlayStation consoles. It was additionally revealed throughout TennoCon 2022 that full crossplay between all methods would lastly be arriving, although that is nonetheless in improvement.
And that’s every thing we all know up to now about Soulframe. With improvement nonetheless in its early levels, it could be a while earlier than extra gameplay is proven, however we’ll replace you as soon as we all know extra. If you happen to can’t wait, why not check out our greatest Warframe builds and fill your time with DE’s different epic MMO, or strive one of many greatest PC video games obtainable proper now?
