Warframe: The Old Peace Sends Players Straight into Hell, and They’ll Love Every Second of It – Game Rant Advance

After twelve years, Warframe is still going strong – and constantly evolving. Unlike many other games that rely on ongoing updates, Warframe continues to thrive, even as players of those other games sometimes get tired of the format. Despite a few bumps in the road, the Warframe community has remained dedicated and has been consistently rewarded for their loyalty. Now, the developers at Digital Extremes are gearing up for their biggest project yet: The Old Peace. This update will delve into the hidden backstory of Warframe and pave the way for a massive expansion planned for 2026, set in the Tau system.

For Game Rant Advance, we spoke with Rebecca Ford (Creative Director), Kat Kingsley (Principal Writer), Adrian Bott (Lead Writer), and Erich Preston (Audio Lead) to learn about the origins of ‘The Old Peace.’ They discussed the project’s inspirations, what they hoped to achieve with the story, the gameplay ideas they tested, and how it fits into the larger, constantly changing world of Warframe.

From Experiment to Massive Space Opera

Rebecca Ford assures players they can expect compelling, relatable stories presented in fresh and innovative ways within the game.

Looking back at Warframe’s launch in 2013, Rebecca Ford describes it as one of Digital Extremes’ biggest risks – and it totally paid off! What started as a quirky, low-budget sci-fi idea has become a game that’s constantly evolving, and she even calls it a ‘pre-teen’ – still growing up, but definitely its own thing. For Rebecca, and all of us at Digital Extremes who’ve worked on it, the last twelve years have been a really personal journey. Warframe isn’t just tied to the studio’s name, it is the names of everyone who poured their hearts into making it what it is today.

Since its launch, Warframe has constantly evolved, with nearly every aspect of the game being updated or redesigned. This continuous change is exciting because the game is still developing – it’s not yet mature, meaning it still has a lot of room to grow and improve. While it can be hard to notice all the adjustments happening over time, much like watching a child grow, Ford recently shared some key changes players can anticipate with the upcoming Old Peace update.

A full Operator/Drifter graphical remaster, a leap Ford compares to going from “PS3 to PS5,” so dramatic that players are prompted to re-edit their Operator before beginning the update.
A renewed focus on experimental storytelling, continuing a streak that began with Whispers in the Walls, Jade Shadows, and Warframe: 1999.

Why Warframe’s Future Lies in its Past

It’s notable how much Warframe delves into its history, particularly with the concept of the Old Peace, as the developers at Digital Extremes look ahead. Reflecting on the past is challenging for anyone, but it’s especially difficult for a game like Warframe that’s still evolving. According to Ford, this focus on the past is deliberate, both in terms of storytelling and overall philosophy. She explains that learning from what came before is essential for shaping the future, given the game’s extensive history and ambitious goals. Ford went on to say…

Warframe has been running for twelve years, and we’re committed to continuing it for many years to come. To make that happen, we need to keep changing and improving, always looking back at our past, understanding our present, and planning for the future.

So, Warframe keeps dropping these amazing story quests, and the newest one, The Old Peace, is seriously digging into the really old days of the Tenno. It’s like Whispers in the Walls gave us a new look at Albrecht Entrati, and Jade Shadows changed how we see the Stalker, but this one? This one goes way back, showing us the first shaky peace talks between the Orokin and the Sentients. And get this – it’s a story my Operator was actually forced to forget! It’s a really cool, forgotten piece of Warframe history.

How The Old Peace Was Inspired…and Died

“The story we’re exploring here is how the Old Peace died” – Adrian Bott

Ford explained that the idea for The Old Peace came from a combination of things. They wanted to acknowledge the significance of the Tau in Warframe’s backstory, maintain a sense of realism in their sci-fi world, and explore the complex idea of children wielding powerful weapons, all while staying true to the harsh realities of war. The initial concept actually came from a phrase Steven Sinclair suggested during writing: “Trench Warframe.” This sparked a lot of research for Ford, who immersed himself in World War I novels throughout 2025 to develop the concept.

The update’s somber, World War I-inspired look – featuring muddy trenches, dark skies, and young soldiers facing brutal combat – came from a specific idea. Ford, the creator, drew heavily on WWI history to make this storyline in Warframe feel more realistic and highlight the human tragedies of war. The era of peace is over.

According to Bott, the Operator’s memories were hidden to protect them, and they reveal a short period of peace between the Orokin and Sentients. As many players know, this peace didn’t last – the Solar Rail was destroyed, and Tau was cut off from its home system. With ‘The Old Peace,’ players can experience these memories, see the fragile peace for themselves, and learn how it ultimately failed.

War is Hell

The ‘Trench’ Warframe update explores historical themes through both its story and how you play. It introduces two new, experimental mission types to the game: The Perita Rebellion and The Descendia.

The Perita Rebellion – A 12-minute descent into the Operator’s wartime memories, designed to feel like a grounded WWI action scene. Tactical objectives, militaristic pacing, and even a new Bayonet weapon class reinforce the era’s grit.
The Descendia – A reverse-tower dive into the literal and emotional “hell” of Roathe’s memory—an infernal, Entrati-driven nightmare that grows more punishing the deeper players go.

Ford on the Goal of These New Warframe Mission Types

We want these new game modes to feel exciting and rewarding, thanks to unique content and rewards like Tauron Strike’s powerful abilities and Honoria player titles. If we’re asking players to spend time mastering these modes, the experience of unlocking everything should be just as fun and captivating as the new gameplay itself.

This all came together perfectly with the original artwork from Warframe’s first art director, Michael “Mynki” Brennan. His concept for the Devil Warframe especially suits the Old Peace storyline with its powerful, battlefield-demon feel. “War is Hell” brings all of these ideas to life and serves as the central story element for The Devil’s Triad.

The Devil’s Triad: If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going

Adrian Bott explains that they aim for players to not only care about these three specific characters, but also to feel invested in the larger world of Warframe and its many secrets.

Building on the popular K.I.M. system from Warframe: 1999, Digital Extremes is introducing three new, darkly styled Protoframes.

Lyon – The Loyal, Grounding Presence
Marie – The Alluring, Incisive Tragedian
Roathe – The Protoframe Bound By Grief and Guilt

Warframe frequently introduces story elements subtly, often through optional side quests or systems. However, ‘The Devil’s Triad’ is a notable exception, immediately grabbing your attention. According to Bott, it’s a complete story – not a typical quest or mission – unfolded through the K.I.M. system and the discoveries made within Descendia. While the Perita Rebellion centers on external conflict, Descendia explores the opposite: a personal and internal struggle, representing Roathe’s own version of hell.

Throughout the game, the player is joined by Lyon and Marie, the other members of the Triad. Bott explains they’re more than just helpers – they offer genuine friendship and emotional guidance, helping players navigate difficult feelings rather than focusing on battles. This creates a surprisingly heartwarming experience, even as the game’s world becomes darker and more frightening. The Triad’s presence highlights a major change in tone for the game, and it will be clear right away how different this experience is.

Warframe: 1999 embraced a vibrant, nostalgic style reminiscent of the 90s, while the Triad takes a different approach, inspired by gothic romance, lavish lifestyles, and characters grappling with deep, emotional struggles. This change meant a total redesign of both the visual style and the underlying systems of the game.

A separate “Grim K.I.M.” interface (G.I.M.)
A new soundtrack
A unique color palette and UI identity
More complex branching relationship paths than the 1999 roster

Although consisting of just three characters, the Triad storyline requires as much, if not more, writing than the entire 1999 K.I.M. system. This is because each Triad member is complex, speaks at length, and operates in shades of gray, leading to intricate interactions. The Devil’s Triad represents a significant narrative risk for Digital Extremes – it’s not a typical quest or just added dialogue, but a complete side story that builds upon the popular elements of Warframe: 1999.

If You Find Love in Hell, Keep Loving

Both romantic and friendly relationships are more detailed now, and reaching the highest level unlocks special, story-driven scenes called Captura Dates. These scenes show off each character’s unique personality and can even include kisses. Some conversations will also reference characters from the original 1999 game, depending on the choices you’ve made. The developers considered making some characters outright villains, as fans have often requested, but ultimately chose a more complex approach. However, they suggest future updates might explore darker storylines if players want it.

Okay, so the Devil’s Triad questline? It totally changed my idea of what a side story in Warframe could be. It’s not just about blasting enemies; it’s a really character-focused story that actually made me feel things – there’s romance, some genuinely creepy horror moments, and a cool, unfolding mythology. Honestly, it feels like a hint of what’s coming with the Tau expansion, a taste of how Digital Extremes is planning to tell stories going forward. It’s a big step up in narrative design, and I’m really excited to see where they take it.

Preston on Making The Old Peace a Classic Space Opera

The music of ‘The Old Peace’ is heavily inspired by classic space opera, and we aimed for a very natural and realistic sound throughout. The score features a live orchestra, acoustic piano, choir, and other instruments played by humans – a first for Warframe. We wanted to make the world of Tau feel truly alive. You’ll hear a diverse range of musical styles and sound effects in this release.

Ford On Bringing Anime Energy and Warframe Style to the New Focus School Ultimate Abilities

Several key influences really shaped our work. We took inspiration from mecha anime for our powerful sword attacks, and the energy beams were inspired by series like Dragon Ball Z and Jujutsu Kaisen. The archery mechanics were influenced by the Fate series, particularly Fate/Apocrypha. We all drew from shows we love, but our ultimate goal was to create something distinctly Warframe – something truly our own. While we were inspired by these great works, the final result maintains a unique Warframe style. A major focus for this update was creating a satisfying, impactful feeling during fights with large bosses, and I repeatedly listened to the Attack on Titan soundtrack while playing to ensure we captured that same energy, but with a uniquely Warframe feel.

Ford On Making Primes the World-Building Mythmakers They Are

Whenever we make changes to Warframe – whether to how it plays, the story, or both – we always ensure those changes feel consistent with the existing game. With this being our first exploration of Warframe’s deeper history, we wanted to have some fun with the Prime Warframes. Players love seeing their favorite Warframes involved in the current story, and using Primes allows us to do that with several at once!

With Protoframes in Warframe: 1999, we demonstrated our ability to delve into the individual stories and backgrounds of Warframes in a compelling way. We continue to see the Warframes as a whole as important, but we’re now more open to exploring new ways to highlight them and give players a chance to experience their favorites. ‘The Old Peace’ showcases this approach, with examples like temporarily playable Excalibur Prime, Caliban Prime being used as part of the environment, and Prime Vanguard enemies featuring commandeered Primes as boss battles.

Waframe: The Old Peace Leads to The Other Side of Hell

As a Warframe fan, what I really appreciate hearing from Rebecca Ford is their commitment to focusing on the people within the story, even when it involves things like the Primes. It’s clear they want to create a world where we feel connected – to the characters, to each other, and to the Warframe universe as a whole, and that’s what truly matters.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed something in a lot of good stories – the best characters aren’t perfect. They’ve usually been through some serious stuff. Honestly, a character without any struggles or flaws just feels…flat. It’s not just about throwing hardship at them though, it’s about seeing how they overcome it. That’s what really makes a story engaging, and it’s a big part of what drives me in Warframe. The ‘Old Peace’ storyline isn’t just about the bad things happening, it’s about what we find after we fight through it all – what’s waiting on the other side?

The Old Peace storyline looks back at the game’s history to set the stage for what’s coming next, both within Warframe and for players themselves. It’s building towards a major new chapter the developers have been hinting at for years: a move to the Tau system in the present day. While there’s still a lot to overcome, the journey promises to be enjoyable, both inside and outside of the core Warframe gameplay.

Early 2026 will bring the usual Echoes update and expand Old Peace content
The TennoVIP Events (Digital Extremes’ world tour) resumes in Australia
And sometime in 2026, Modern-Day Tau becomes playable in Warframe.

On all this, Ford ended with poignant love for all Tennos and Digital Extremes:

I want to make Warframe easier for everyone to enjoy while also keeping it exciting with innovative and unusual content. I’m incredibly lucky to work with a remarkably skilled team who have supported each other for over a decade as we’ve continually improved the game. They are the foundation of Warframe’s ongoing success.

Players venturing beyond the core game will discover the Tau system, a contemporary setting many have eagerly anticipated. Digital Extremes has carefully blended realistic historical themes, gothic romance, deep psychological elements, visually stunning anime influences, epic space opera music, and a renewed focus on the Primes. While this combination might seem complex, it actually comes together seamlessly.

At its heart, Warframe is a story about humanity – specifically, about children transformed into soldiers, and the worlds they’ve cherished and lost. While the game’s 2026 setting of Tau is the goal, The Old Peace explores the heavy emotional price paid to reach it.

2025-12-08 17:12