At TennoCon 2025, held on July 19–20, 2025, Digital Extremes showcased a 30-minute gameplay demo of Soulframe, their upcoming free-to-play fantasy MMORPG, highlighting significant progress in its pre-alpha Preludes phase. The demo, set in the lush, nature-inspired world of Midrath, introduced the new Waste Bear Fable, featuring a corrupted three-headed Omen Beast named Bromius in the gloomy Neath’uns underground, filled with twisted Sproutfolk and environmental puzzles. Players, as Envoys, explored a Magick-focused combat style, casting green magic from a staff and using abilities like transforming into a blue butterfly for stealth or deploying an exploding decoy Envoy. The demo also showcased the Wazzard of Wastes, a magical mini-boss in the Galvinar swamp, with a new parry mechanic that reflects projectiles. New weapons, including the Wulder, Vetch, and sidearms like Skilter and Nettle, were revealed, alongside armor sets like Orengall and Mednicant King, now with defensive stats for magical and physical resistance. The UI saw touch-ups with loadout switching and crafting previews, while eight new hairstyle customization options added depth to Envoy personalization. To celebrate TennoCon, Digital Extremes opened Preludes access to all who signed up by July 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET via soulframe.com, though new content like the Motes system is not yet included.
Community-Driven Development and Future Potential
Soulframe’s TennoCon 2025 presentation emphasized Digital Extremes’ commitment to community feedback, with Creative Director Geoff Crookes noting the team’s iterative approach based on player input from the Preludes alpha. The revamped skill system, inspired by medieval martial arts manuals, allows tailored progression across melee, ranged, and support builds, while the Motes system for weapon and armor reforging is slated for a fall 2025 release. The demo featured Verminia, the Rat Witch, guiding players through the Bromius quest, with her winged rat “poppet” adding humor and aiding in combat. Multiplayer co-op was briefly shown, hinting at seamless squad play. Despite its “aspirational” 2025 release goal, as stated by community manager Sarah Asselin, Soulframe’s slower, tactical combat—contrasting Warframe’s fast-paced action—draws inspiration from Dark Souls and Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke, promising a grimdark yet whimsical experience. Fans on X, like @Elykodi_k, praised the demo’s cinematic visuals and music, while @PCGamesN highlighted the adorable “Floppets” (winged rats). For access, sign up on soulframe.com, join the Soulframe Discord for support, and follow @PlaySoulframe on X for updates on the evolving Preludes build and full launch details.
