Warframe in 2023

I’m an idiot. I started playing Warframe again this week (alas, no cross-progress form my old Xbox account), because I wanted to see how it had come along over the past year or so. I jumped in, it felt familiar and comfortable, and I’d been planning my Warframe return.

Little did I realise that my timing was piss-poor. Two days later and Digital Extremes have released a huge update and new cinematic game mode “The Duviri Paradox”. Looks like I timed my want to dive back in quit nicely, and now my interest is piqued!

 

The Duviri Paradox

Global games developer and publisher Digital Extremes’ anticipated free Warframe update The Duviri Paradox is available today for all platforms, welcoming all players to embark on a wild, time-looping journey through Duviri’s fractured and ever-changing multidimensional world. Introducing an exciting new way to experience the thrills of the online sci-fi MMO, The Duviri Paradox is Warframe’s first story-driven cinematic update that is not progression-locked and is available for all players to enjoy for free regardless of their skill level, experience, or familiarity with the game. 

A new gameplay launch trailer dives deeper into the story of The Duviri Paradox while showcasing more of the ever-changing open world that players will traverse with their Kaithe as they unearth Duviri’s secrets and take down new enemies with electrifying combat, including the terrifying Orowyrm.

“The Duviri Paradox is truly a complete departure from our approach to open world design. Everything from its aesthetics and color, to thematic elements, gameplay mechanics, our approach to storytelling and accessibility, this update overhauls how a new player can experience Warframe, while still retaining the classic elements of Warframe’s wildly frenetic gameplay that returning players love and expect from us,” said Rebecca Ford, Creative Director for Warframe at Digital Extremes. “This update is the last piece in the story of the Drifter before we move on to our next multi-year narrative arc that will explore more of the Drifter and Operator’s journey as we prepare to learn more about The Man in the Wall.”

Starting today, new players jumping into Warframe for the very first time will be presented with two choices when beginning the game – starting their journey with The Duviri Paradox as the Drifter or beginning their journey through the game’s main path with a Warframe. This choice does not impact or lock a player’s ability to experience the other side. For returning players, The Duviri Paradox Quest will be available in their codex and Duviri will appear on their Star Chart when the update launches later today. All players will continue their post-Quest journey in Duviri by selecting one of three game modes: ‘The Circuit’ which provides a new Warframe Only endless game mode, ‘The Duviri Experience’ which is a full open world adventure, and ‘The Lone Story’ for a solo narrative experience.

 

Discover a Shifting Open World Rife with New Challenges and Intriguing Rewards

The Duviri Paradox introduces players to Waframe’s fourth open world- a fractured and unknown world composed of strange floating islands ruled by Dominus Thrax where environments and colors shift and transpose as the child king’s mood Spirals through Fear, Anger, Joy, Envy, and Sorrow. Each mood in The Duviri Paradox is distinct in environments, combat, and interactions, where enemies and the citizens of Duviri look, react, and behave differently and colors alter to create a new experience with each step into Duviri.

For returning players, the update improves the Drifter experience by including an upgraded melee combat system and adding Intrinsics for players to upgrade their Combat, Riding Abilities, Opportunity, and Endurance. As players progress through the story each day, they will also unlock Decrees offering randomized powerful upgrades that will reset with each new mood Spiral.

In addition to playing through the main story, players can jump into optional side activities in Duviri that reward them with Decrees, Intrinsics, Resources, and more including Fishing, Conservation, Herding, Kaithe Racing, Puzzles and Hidden Chests, and even Shawzin Playing. Players looking to take a break from Duviri’s endless action can even play board games with its resident NPCs.

More experienced players can also take advantage of the new Incarnon Genesis System and install Incarnon Adapters to a selection of eligible weapons and unlock improvements for use in-mission. Incarnon Adapters are only available in Steel Path Circuit missions on Duviri and players should be prepared for a more challenging experience.

 

Let’s see!

Warframe has held a special place in my heart for a long time, and I’ve missed it. Getting to start again is great, because I get to see how much it’s changed. The release of The Duviri Paradox is so timely, I can’t believe it.

Roguelike-inspired cinematic adventure in a free game, in a world that I already enjoy? Sign me up!

I’ve got it downloaded on the Steam Deck, on the PC, and now I’m ready to go. Damn, I do miss my Ash Prime, though….

Interest in Destiny 2 is kinda waning, and not being able to play it on Steam Deck is a real issue for me. So another free-to-play science fiction MMO is needed!