Warframe developer Digital Extremes unveiled Soulframe last year, which is the first project known project that the studio has undertaken since 2013. We got a glimpse of what the combat looks like at Tennocon 2023, and I am personally excited to try out the game. Digital Extremes has managed to get the free-to-play formula right with Warframe, but things are far from perfect in its most successful game to date. Here are our picks for the top five things that Soulframe can learn from Warframe.
Please Don’t Ignore Endgame Content
We all like to joke about how Fashionframe is Warframe’s endgame content, and for good reason. Unlike many other competing live service titles, Warframe’s content updates arrive a lot slower in comparison. Don’t get me wrong, there are hundreds of hours of content awaiting you if you want to get into the game, but once you reach the endgame, it becomes a long wait for content updates. Veterans have raised issues with Warframe’s endgame content for years, and it is something that is hopefully addressed in Soulframe.
In Soulframe, we want to be able to use the powerful gear we earn in meaningful places. Warframe’s power balance has reached a point where you can evaporate entire maps without breaking a sweat, and while the rush of power is fantastic, the loot grind sometimes feels pointless. Raids and PvP were envisioned for Warframe at launch, but neither of those things stuck around. I am hoping that Soulframe does not follow the same trend and gives us setpiece content akin to Destiny 2’s raids, which are arguably Bungie’s best offerings.
A Less Convoluted Monetization System
Let me start off by saying that Warframe is by far one of the best free-to-play games out there. But Digital Extremes’ presentation is something that needs work. As a free-to-play player, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from obtaining almost all of the Warframes in a couple of weeks’ time if you sink time into it. Getting into trading is easy, and you can make premium currency fairly easily. The only thing that will stop you from earning platinum is the amount of trade slots you have daily, which is based on your Mastery Rank.
The problem with Warframe’s monetization is the Shop. Any Warframe player who has played for more than a few weeks knows how much of a ripoff the shop can be. You get everything from frames to weapons to resources at absurd Platinum prices. Even if you are buying and spending premium currency for a Warframe for example, it is far more efficient to spend your Platinum and get a Prime version of the same frame from a player via the trading system.
There are too many spending traps in the game that make no sense like overpriced market deals or the ability to “rush” crafting items. I mean, why do we have a wait time for making items in the Forge anyway? While Digital Extremes offers a fair experience, it would be better for new players to experience a monetization format where they do not get pulled into spending traps that are absolutely not worth it.
A Solid New Player Experience
One of the biggest annoyances in live-service titles is the amount of arbitrary currencies. When you boot up Warframe, you will be bombarded with different types of currency drops. While there is a Codex that helps you locate resources that you need, you need to have the Wiki open half the time to figure things out as a new player. There needs to be better communication in the game to help players ease into the game.
Despite Digital Extremes’ many attempts, including the arrival of its recent expansion, The Duviri Paradox, the new player experience is nowhere near perfect. Failure to onboard players seamlessly could lead to players dipping out of the game in its early stages.
A More Approachable Story
Warframe’s lore was always intriguing but its storytelling was always disjointed in its early years. With the launch of cinematic quests like the Second Dream, the game heralded a new era for itself with fleshed-out story updates and I hope the trend continues in Soulframe. Digital Extremes has created some amazing cinematics and story quests over the years and we cannot wait to see what the developers have in store for us moving forward.
Warframe being a decade old leads to technical limitations and hopefully, Soulframe is the platform where DE truly showcases its creative strengths. Some of the recent quests that the developers have put out for Warframe are no less engaging than AAA titles.
Less Reliance on Third-Party Platforms
A major issue that many live-service titles have is the reliance on third-party sites or add-ons to get things done. Destiny 2 players rely on third-party LFG groups to find raid parties and Destiny Item Manager to manage their inventory. Similarly, Warframe Market and Riven Market are go-to destinations for Warframe players.
Digital Extremes has also historically done a bad job of explaining what things are when it comes to in-game mechanics and systems. Take Warframe’s Relic system, for example. The drop rates for Prime parts are not clearly mentioned, and information in the Codex barely helps. While it’s not that big of an issue for PC players, it gets frustrating on a console to constantly look things up, at least during the early stages of your Warframe experience.
Closing Thoughts
Soulframe is one of my most anticipated games and I am excited to see what Digital Extremes has in store for us. When it comes to the game’s release date, it is expected to arrive in late 2024 so we might be just over a year away from experiencing the game. A closed beta is also set to take place sometime soon so you should definitely keep an eye out in case you are interested. If you have never tried Warframe before, I strongly recommend giving it a try especially if you are interested in the looter shooter genre.
