TennoCon 2026 was packed and meaty, not just for Warframe fans, but also for the early players in Soulframe. Digital Extremes featured the upcoming game in TennoCon 2026 with a markedly darker chapter, introducing a corruption-fueled storyline and a major new villain voiced by actor Ben Starr and Jennifer English, best known for their roles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
This time around, “Warsongs” is the centerpiece of the presentation. It’s a new Fable quest scheduled to arrive in Fall 2026. The update centers on the Vadagar Pact, an alternate progression path that allows players to harness the corrupting force known as Ichor. Rather than following the game’s traditional themes of healing and restoration, the game will briefly allow players to embrace the very power threatening the world of Alca, unlocking abilities such as explosive boomerangs, grasping tendrils, and spectral cavalry charges.
It’s essentially like the Venom symbiote but for the Soulframe universe, hopefully with less risk of turning into an emo Peter Parker. Speaking of celebrities, “Warsongs” also introduces Tempest Bayor, a mysterious red-armed Envoy who has allied himself with the invading Ode. Ben Starr lends his voice to the antagonist, while his Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 co-star Jennifer English joins the cast as the Empress of Eldveil, a ruler who appears to possess crucial knowledge about Bayor’s motives.
New bosses, new mounts, and new themes
Creative Director Geoff Crookes said the darker turn is a deliberate counterpoint to Soulframe’s overarching message of redemption, essentially a change of scenery for most players. According to Crookes, confronting fear and despair is essential to meaningful growth, and the new storyline is designed to explore that balance rather than abandon the game’s hopeful core.
Beyond the narrative additions, Digital Extremes showcased several new gameplay features. The mounted boss Mendicant Reinbreaker is now live in Soulframe Preludes, with players able to free his steed and potentially befriend it later. A narrative-driven fishing activity with Grandfather Doyen is also on the way, adding a quieter diversion to the fantasy adventure.
Perhaps the most anticipated reveal was the confirmation that rideable mounts, including the long-teased wolf companion, will arrive in Preludes later this year. The studio also opened the gates wider to prospective players. Anyone who created a Soulframe account before the July 12 deadline secured permanent access to the Preludes test phase through the game’s eventual public launch, while later sign-ups will return to a raffle-based invitation system.
