Digital Extremes’ fantasy sibling to Warframe — Soulframe — is playable today, technically: the Preludes pre-alpha runs rolling updates (currently Preludes 16: Of Hook & Hound, September) with invite batches going out 2,000 players a week, plus guaranteed Twitch Drops and a Founders program that ran from November 25, 2025. There’s no Steam release date and no console launch window yet, but you can slot in almost free. Here’s how to get in and what’s actually in the game.
Note: Verified September 17, 2026 against Digital Extremes’ official site, the Polygon TennoCon 2026 coverage, Wikipedia’s version-history table and the WARFRAME Wiki’s Soulframe entry.
What Soulframe Is
Soulframe is a free-to-play third-person fantasy action RPG set in Midrath — a lush, wild, war-torn continent within the world of Alca, whose corrupted airships belong to the invading Ode faction. You play an Envoy wielding a Pact Arm infused with ancient Fey magic, fighting to protect Alca and uncover Midrath’s secrets. Bit of Elden Ring-lite structure, but with Warframe DNA in the combat pacing — bulbous movement, fey-tech gear, evasive swings rather than shooter-style cover.
How to Get Into Preludes Right Now
Four paths into the pre-alpha, currently all PC:
| Route | How it works |
|---|---|
| Email lottery | ~2,000 invites per week, drawn every Wednesday 5PM CET; sign up free on soulframe.com |
| Twitch Drops | Guaranteed access codes during official streams |
| Founders program | Paid bundles granting Preludes access + exclusive items — launched Nov 25, 2025, expected to run through late 2026 |
| TennoCon open windows | Anyone who registered during the TennoCon week got guaranteed access (2025 and 2026 both) |
Preludes specs: PC-only for now; Digital Extremes has said nothing about a 1.0 launch date. The Steam storefront page exists, but no release date has been announced.
What’s In the Game Right Now (Preludes 15 + 16)
The pre-alpha has been updated constantly — the current version line reads:
- Preludes 13: A Triquetra of Virtues (early 2026)
- Preludes 14: The Duelo (Feb 2026)
- Preludes 15: Gods & Ghosts (June 10, 2026) — the major update that added a new boss: the Mendicant Reinbreaker (beat him and you can befriend his horse as a future mount!), a new sword-whip weapon weapon, plus the usual systems polish.
- Preludes 16: Of Hook & Hound (September 2026, date TBA as of writing) — fishing minigame is landing this update.
- Preludes 17: Warsongs (late autumn, date TBA) — a new Vadagar Pact, described as a “corrupted player progression path” with more violent ability lines; the devstream featured Ben Starr’s new character, a beaver, and mounts.
Voice cast: Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI’s Clive) and Jennifer English are coming to Soulframe’s cast — announcement at TennoCon 2026.
Platforms: Console Plans
- Currently PC-only (pre-alpha build).
- Console versions are officially confirmed — Digital Extremes updated the FAQ in July 2026 committing to Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 post-alpha. The Founders program will be available at console launch.
- No dates published. The Xbox/PS5 launch is effectively gated on 1.0 status, which DE hasn’t committed to at TennoCon yet.
Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) Jump In Now
Should:
- If you want to be a founding player of DE’s next decade-long service, now’s the only moment where community feedback genuinely shapes the build.
- Free storytelling RPG loop with excellent visual identity — worth an evening just for the vibe.
- Warframe alumnus? Between the the sleepless army of the Hound, this is DE’s folkloric counterpiece.
Wait:
- Mechanics are very pre-alpha — combat depth is unfinished, so don’t build in a save folder like it’ll persist.
- No Steam or console release windows yet — DE hasn’t committed to any 1.0 release timing. TennoCon 2026 confirmed mounts and fishing rather than a launch date.
- Servers crash under TennoCon-style flood — prepare for a rocky entry frame if you join a new wave.
FAQ
When does Soulframe launch? No release date announced as of September 17, 2026 — DE’s stated plan is Preludes testing rolling into 1.0 “when ready,” with a Steam release and console versions (PS5/Xbox Series X|S) confirmed but undated.
Is Soulframe free-to-play? Yes — DE’s service model is live; the Founders monetization is cosmetic/code-tier, not gameplay-gated.
What engine does Soulframe use? Evolution Engine — Digital Extremes’ own engine tech.
Is Soulframe related to Warframe? Same studio, same grotesque visual language, distinct fictional universe (Midrath inside Alca, no formal crossover). Warframe crossover side-notes exist for cosmetics only.
How do I get in right now? Free signup at soulframe.com → weekly lottery email (~2,000 invites every Wednesday), Twitch Drops during official streams, or buy into the Founders program (launched Nov 25, 2025; license windows still open at time of writing).
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