Digital Extremes has been doing incredibly well for itself the past few years. Not only does it consistently update Warframe with major new content releases, but it is also building a brand new game, Soulframe, with its Preludes pre-alpha. The next update to Soulframe Preludes, Preludes 16, will add new mechanics and a new Warsongs Fable, the latter of which I got the chance to see via a hands-off preview during Gamescom 2026. While I wasn’t necessarily interested in Soulframe before watching the preview, this new look made me immediately interested to play more.
For those who are maybe unfamiliar, Soulframe is Digital Extremes’ take on the fantasy genre. Rather than being dark fantasy, though, it instead is a hope-filled world where nature plays a major role in the narrative. Preludes is the game’s pre-alpha, which will continue to get more updates until the full game releases at a later date. Warsongs is another Fable, which is a story-based expansion that will provide further detail in the backstory of the protagonist Envoy.
Warsongs begins, not with the create-a-character Envoy, but with their mother instead. During the course of the Fable, players will get to learn some of the secrets within this vast world. The vast buildings that have loomed in the sky since the beginning will now get some more attention in the main story. The Envoy’s origin will be explored, as will a threat that has haunted them since the beginning: Tempest Bayor, voiced by Ben Starr.
The premise is really compelling, and I especially loved how the opening segment teased how these characters will be further analyzed within this new Fable. For instance, there will be brief segments where you play as both Bayor and the Envoy’s mother. You will also be able to see the climactic battle between the two, and how it led to the Envoy’s current situation. The full release will likely highlight even more characters, such as Alora, voiced by Jennifer English.
The new update is shaping up to be quite exciting from a gameplay perspective as well. Not only will there be plenty of new combat encounters within the expansion, but there will also be a new boss known as Mendicant Reinbreaker. The former was especially interesting to watch, because it properly illustrated how different Soulframe is compared to Warframe. While Warframe allows you to pick from different Frames, each having different utility in fast-paced combat, Soulframe‘s combat is a little bit slower and more methodical. Furthermore, you can use different weapons for your Envoy rather than needing to choose an entirely different Frame. Combat in general seems very visceral and satisfying, regardless if you are playing as the protagonist or their mother.
Beyond the new combat encounters, more mechanics will also be available. For starters, the new Vadagar Pact allows players to toss exploding boomerangs and call forth ensnaring tendrils. They can now even summon a stampede of corrosive steeds that leave behind dark murky pools in their wake. Beyond that, mounts are also being added to the game later this year after much anticipation. As a whole, Preludes 16 is looking like a fantastic new addition to the ongoing pre-alpha for Soulframe. The new story additions are very fascinating even as someone unfamiliar with the broader world that Digital Extremes have created thus far. Plus, the new mechanical and gameplay adjustments will be thrilling for both new players and returning players alike.
If you have been wanting to play Soulframe for yourself, new log-in codes for Preludes are given out on a weekly basis. For now, it is only available on PC, but the full release has been designed with consoles in mind. As for when that full release is, currently Digital Extremes has not confirmed an exact release date, but it appears it is developing this game with the utmost care and in collaboration with the community. It is not hard to see the passion that the developers have poured into Soulframe, and I cannot wait to see how it further develops with Preludes 16 and beyond.
