Octavia Prime brings the beat back in style as our own Adrian Haas goes through the ins and outs of one of the most interesting Frames out there. And by interesting we mean Octavia is the only Warframe that comes equipped with a musical step-sequencer that lets you lay-down the beat, melody, and percussion of the on-screen action.

As seen in the trailer for Octavia Prime.

Music defines the entirety of Octavia's abilities, and it's all based around the Mandachord. This is a basic step sequencer, complete with its own set of instrument samples, capable of producing intricate songs.

The quest to obtain (non-Prime) Octavia and her instrument is rather special, and one of the more memorable journeys in the game.

There are of course default patterns you can use but composing music is super easy - just click the tile in the bass, melody or percussion line. Combining and looping the various notes and instruments into an awesome sounding track however, requires a certain skill, which, after many hours of trial and mostly error -- I can confidently say I do not possess. Thankfully songs can be shared via in-game Chat, and importing someone else's creation is simple.

Octavia Prime Guide and Overview

Warframe developer Digital Extremes has showcased some of the next-gen visual updates coming to the hit online title - and it's a pretty substantial update. In addition to smooth 4K 60fps visuals, and fast loading thanks to the PlayStation 5's super-fast SSD storage - a brand new Enhanced Renderer is also overhauling the lighting and other effects. Not only that but all textures have been remastered for both detail and performance.

It all looks stunning, and the following trailer even has a few shots to show the massive improvement players can expect going from Ps4 to PS5.



On PlayStation 5 (the update is also coming to Xbox Series X and PC) Digital Extremes will also support cross-gen play and take advantage of the new console's Activity features - and the impressive features of the new DualSense controller.

NEXT-GENERATION’S ENHANCED POWER AND FIDELITY

Taking full advantage of the power of next-gen consoles, Warframe will run at up to 4K resolution and 60fps. Drastically improved loading times get players into the action as fast as possible and create a seamless experience as Tenno race from player-filled towns to massive and weird Open Worlds.

The all new Enhanced Renderer ups the ante on dynamic lighting. From the neon underbelly of Fortuna, to our newest landscape on the Infested moon of Deimos... there’s no better place to see the stunning differences. The light from the sun now casts long shadows through the trees, foliage creates dynamic shadows as you stalk through it, and the reflections of the dense Cetus market can be seen across your Warframe as you stroll through.

A game-wide texture remaster adds new levels of detail and enhanced color throughout the experience and also reduces the space Warframe will take up on your hard drive.

SQUAD UP WITH CROSS-GENERATION PLAY

This new hardware generation also elevates cooperative team-play by giving squads around the world one of their most desired features: cross-generation play.

For PS4 and PS5 owners, this means Tenno will be able to move seamlessly between platforms, playing with teammates regardless if they’re on PS4 or PS5. Gamers’ profiles and their progress will be saved and will follow them as they move onto PS5.

ACTIVITIES, NEXT-GEN CONTROLS & MORE ON PLAYSTATION 5

The next generation of Warframe also takes advantage of many of the new and unique features of Sony’s PlayStation 5.

Progress Activities will show you exactly how close you are to earning a Trophy, while Challenge Activities will get you right into the action with no need to load the game. The first will be a Sanctuary Onslaught Challenge, with more to come.

At launch using the PS5’s Adaptive Triggers, players will experience the impact of every shot fired with each trigger pull, bringing a new level of immersion and thrill to your actions without comprising the tight, fast, fluid and responsive controls that you can only get in Warframe.

In the future, as Digital Extremes explores Sony’s advanced Haptic technology, it aims to further immerse the player with unique vibration patterns that match in-game environments: from feeling the cold snow crunch under your feet on Venus in contrast to the soft-footing of a dusty Mars settlement.

PlayStation 5 owners are also getting a nice little bonus in the form of a free Warframe: PlayStation Plus Booster Pack which will feature Sedai Obsidian Syandana inspired by the new DualSense controller.

With this year's digital version of TennoCon set to kick off on the weekend of August 1, developer Digital Extremes has lifted the lid - or, slightly opened it - on the next Warframe expansion called Heart of Deimos.

With the following teaser providing a glimpse at the expansion that will focus "on the Infested faction".

Forging a blend of the grotesque and the beautiful, the old and the new, Canadian developer and publisher Digital Extremes will debut Warframe’s new expansion, Heart of Deimos, focused on the Infested faction, at its fifth annual TennoCon, Saturday, August 1.

Due to world events, TennoCon 2020 is an all-digital conference -- streamed from our homes -- that serves to join together the game’s community and the DE team to share their common love for Warframe. This year’s digital conference blends live and recorded events for a fully digital experience. Players can watch and participate in panels, contests, a community-created artwork showcase, and Warframe’s biggest content reveals, starting with the Infested-themed Heart of Deimos demo and the new community-created Warframe.

As a nice little bonus those you link their Twitch accounts and watch 30 minutes of the closing TennoLive event and 30 minutes of any other TennoCon event will earn themselves Hydroid Prime and the limited-time hand cannon Athodai.



For more info head to the official Waframe TennoCon site.

As our resident Warframe expert, Adrian Haas is back with another deep dive. This time into the latest addition to the Prime line-up - Titania Prime. Which, thanks to a recent rework now makes the seldom used Frame something of a go-to.

Which is also due to some key weapon changes.

Building on the recent quality of life update (details below), and imbued with increased health, armor, and energy, Titania Prime has arrived. Newly primed weapons too, with the Corinth shotgun and Pangolin sword. The Corinth Prime in particular, being quite different to the original weapon. Gone is the unique shell-by-shell reloading technique, in its place a 20 round mag and massive three second reload time. Because hey, in a game where you can zip around like a space-ninja, three seconds can feel like an eternity.

The alt-fire airburst of the Corinth still exists, but now it can be detonated manually by hitting the alt-fire a second time. Status chance, rate of fire, and alt-fire damage have all been increased along with the mag size, but the slow, boring reload and lowered alt-fire fire rate can be detrimental to what was once a super fun, super unique weapon to use. Of course a lot of that comes down to what one grows accustomed to, so there’s a good chance that with time I'll get used to the new Corinth. Either way, it feels like an entirely different weapon now.

Click Here to Read Our Full Titania Prime Breakdown

Out of retirement and back patrolling the space streets, we take an updated look at Oberon Prime and Nekros Prime - with our resident Waframe expert Adrian Haas.

Our in-depth guide goes through what builds make both still viable to play today.

The Prime Vault is the means by which Prime Frames and weapons that have been 'retired' and thus made unobtainable from Void Relics, are once again reintroduced into the game for a limited time. These (along with some tasty Prime cosmetics) can be purchased directly from the Warframe website or farmed in-game. The Relics containing the freshly unvaulted parts can be found in the Void, as well as Plains of Eidolon and Orb Vallis bounties, the latter two being preferable as you can earn extra relics for completing the bonus objectives.

Unfortunately Oberon and Nekros haven't received a lot of love since their initial release in terms of updates, and as such their most useful builds rely heavily on Augment mods, and focus on the use of only one or two of their abilities. That said both Frames can still be turned into nigh-unkillable tanks with the help of Phoenix Renewal and Umbral mods for Oberon, and a high Strength Shadows Of The Dead modded Nekros.

Click Here to Read Our Full Guide to Oberon Prime and Nekros Prime

As most Tenno brace for space-combat aboard their very own Railjack as part of the new Empyrean update for Warframe - the most recent update to the game also brought a new Prime variant, this time to the Queen of Stealth Ivara. This updated and upgraded version of the popular frame is a sight to behold, cementing her status as the frame of choice for the most stealthiest of space ninjas out there.

One of our all-time favourite frames, Ivara, has finally been Primed. The superior stealth Warframe has been upgraded with greater shields, increased energy, and ever so slightly boosted sprint speed. And of course, a shiny new look not dissimilar of a jellyfish, but with extra dangly bits. Her appearance when in Prowl has changed as well, and instead of showing her basic outline as before, the Primed Ivara now resembles a galaxy in motion - which admittedly, will take some getting used to. In that controlling Ivara Prime is a bit like living the final act of 2001: A Space Odyssey - trippy.

Click Here For Our Ivara Prime Guide

Alongside the first time-limited Community Event of 2019, one that continues the story from both the Fortuna expansion and The Profit-Take update. Where Tenno will need to band together in "a new story-line that re-defines the cynical deal Nef Anyo holds over the Solaris United Faction". A tale which sees the arival of the 39th Warframe - Hildryn.

Whose abilities are based around stealing shields and redirecting the energy into powerful abilities.

HILDRYN’S ABILITIES

• Balefire: Charge and launch devastating bolts of fire.
  Shield Pillage: Pillage a percentage of Shields and Armor of nearby enemies to replenish her own Shields and Overshields.
  
• Haven: Create a Shield aura around allies. Enemies that approach Shielded allies will take damage.
  
• Aegis Storm: Take the skies and rain Balefire rockets down on the enemy. Nearby enemies are blasted into the air where they will create an Energy Orb every few seconds. When Shields runs out the enemies are smashed into the ground.

Operation: Buried Debts is packed with other tweaks and updates, like the ability to mod your hover-board K-Drive, new Ephemera customisations for Warframes, and, err, curly hairstyles for Operators.

In terms of fundamental changes Buried Debts include Phase 1 of a Warframe melee overhaul that aims to deliver smoother, faster, and more fluid combat. Phase 1 includes the ability to instantly switch to melee weapons and being able to continue a combo (within a certain time-frame) even when interrupted by gunfire, dodging, jumping, or any other movement. For more on these changes - head here.

Buried Debts represents the second major update to Fortuna, and is available now on PC.

Warframe developer Digital Extremes still knows how to surprise. With the arrival of Warframe: Nightwave, a new story-based mode that has players tuning into a radio broadcast for new challenges and new rewards. And for the first time in the game's history the new content is available today across all platforms - PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Nightwave: Series 1 - The Wolf of Saturn Six is available to play now, or listen to with host Nora Night, presents new enemies and backstory. As the first in the Nightwave series, which will be ongoing, rewards are said to be both exclusive and time sensitive. As hinted at in the following stylish trailer.



Each Nightwave story is expected to run for several weeks and when one finishes, the next one begins.

After the recent console debut of the latest open-world expansion to the free-to-play hit Warframe making its debut recently (check out our impressions here), comes word that the highly anticipated The Profit-Taker update is due to arrive tomorrow. With the title referring to a giant new boss the update also introduces the next Waframe - Baruuk.

Check out the launch trailer.

New Features In Fortuna: The Profit-Taker Include:

BRING THE BIG GUNS: Only serious firepower can crush the Profit-Taker. Earn the Archguns -- previously only available to equip in space -- to equip your Warframe while on foot and ascend to a whole new level of ballistic power.

EARN BARUUK, THE NEW WARFRAME: A pacifist by nature, the 38th Warframe’s calm manner erupts when pushed to the edge.

• Elude: Dodge all incoming projectiles, but only while not attacking. Edge closer to the brink with each projectile dodge.
  
• Lull: A calming wave slows enemies until they fall into a slumber. Enemies woken by damage will be confused and disoriented.
  
• Subdue: Summon a bevy of orbiting daggers to seek out enemy guns, destroying them with a small explosion. Combine with Untouchable to double the range.
  
• Serene Storm: With his Restraint eroded, Baruuk commands the Desert Wind to deliver powerful radial strikes with his fists and feet. Each moment commanding the storm restores his Restraint.

CONSERVE ANIMALS, EARN FLOOFS: The Business and his conservation team have three new Echo-Lures on offer. Use them to save three new species in the Vallis before the Corpus get to them first. New Floofs and a Conservation Badge await your efforts!

UPGRADE, ENHANCE AND MOD: Visit the character Little Duck in Fortuna to access new Operator Amps and Arcanes, while picking up weapons and customizations (such as hairstyles and Ventkid Cosmetics) in the marketplace. And collect a whole new set of weapons, mods, and customizations to keep up with the Corpus’ expanded arsenal (including new shotguns, whips, revolvers, shields, Syandana, alt helms, and more).

The Profit-Taker is the first major update for the Fortuna expansion, and as of tomorrow will be available to play across PC, PS4, and Xbox One. No word yet on a planned Nintendo Switch release. Here's hoping developer Digital Extremes can bridge the release gap from PC to console and now console to Switch as future updates come to Warframe.

As a follow up to the Plains if Eidolon update which introduced the first open-world play-space for Warframe, Fortuna looks to take that concept and improve upon it in every way. And that's before you get to the whole hover-boards as the new vehicle stuff. Already playable in the PC version, the Venus-set and visually stunning Fortuna update has finally made it's way to PS4 and Xbox One.

PlayStation 4 and Xbox One players will meet the Solaris United Faction to kick off this enormous new expansion. Whether in the underground hub city of Fortuna or on the massive Orb Vallis on the planet surface, players can dive into Solaris United’s stories, learn about the plight of The Business, Eudico, Rude Zuud, the Ventkids, and others, and help them rebel against their brutal oppressors. With the trusty Archwing or the K-Drive Hoverboard players can blast across the wide open Venusian landscape to pull off grabs, spins, rails and explore the massive, alien Landscape.

While surveying the terrain, the Corpus occupiers, led by the profit-obsessed Nef Anyo, bring new weapons, systems, and facilities to bear including a bustling spaceport, a secretive research facility and a massive shrine to Nef Anyo. Tenno should keep an eye out for mechanical, spider-like machines known as Raknoids. These Corpus-designed creatures range in size and lethality, from tiny Mites to the massive, invulnerable Orbs that loom over the region. The new Alert System will keep all players on their toes.

And then there's the new Garuda Warframe which looks, well, awesome. Digital Extremes is also running a Fortuna Twitch Drop campaign. Where until early next week anyone watching a Warframe Fortuna stream for at least one hour will get the chance to snag a reward - including Nidus and Khora frames, a Rifle Riven, and more.

According to Digital Extremes, the Fortuna update is also coming to Nintendo Switch "soon". This is a massive update, just in time for the holidays, so for full patch notes and details - head here.

The free-to-play phenomenon that is Warframe is having a great year, not only has it hit the Nintendo Switch but it's also received it's next major open-world expansion with the bright and colourful Fortuna. Hover boards! No word on when that update might hit the handheld, but in the meantime it's definitely been a hit with Switch owners.

Surpassing over 1 million downloads for the free-to-play title, meaning that on-the-go Warframe is now a reality. And if you're wondering how the title fares on the Switch, the results are impressive. With developer Digital Extremes and Panic Button putting in stellar work.



As per above, the performance breakdown from Digital Foundry showcases just that. If you're thinking about jumping in, be sure to check out our primer - Warframe - Tenno Reasons You Should Be Playing.

And that's not a reference to Warframe's progression system, which is mostly fair - instead the whole grind that we've noticed in the Fortuna launch trailer is of the skate variety. Thanks to the introduction of a new traversal system in the form of a Bondi K-Drive Hoverboard. Fortuna also introduces a large new open-world to explore set on Venus, overrun by Corpus and many more threats.

Get Wicked on the K-Drive -- Blast across the wide open Venusian landscape on the Bondi K-Drive. Warframe's new means of locomotion instantly turns transportation into extreme recreation. Get in touch with the Solaris United's youth movement -- the Ventkids -- to earn Standing to upgrade and customize your board to the next level (including K-Drive Mods!). Experiment with grabs, spins, rails and more. Learn how to use your board in combat: players can dismount mid-air, pull out weapons, blast Corpus thugs, and remount in air for extra points! Just like in Plains of Eidolon, players can access their Archwing to get a bird's eye view and fly across the Orb Vallis!

The New Faction, Solaris United -- The cyborg Faction Solaris United live in the Blade-Runner-esque debt-internment colony, Fortuna. Similar to the gathering bazaars of Cetus in Plains of Eidolon, Fortuna is an underground hub city that serves as a factory to clean coolant rivers and doubles as a trading hub for the region. Underneath the facade of harmony and unified labor, however, discontent runs deep. Dig into the faction's stories, learn about the plight of The Business, Eudico, Rude Zuud, the Ventkids, and others, and help them fight their oppressors.

Fortuna and The Orb Vallis -- The Fortuna expansion takes place underground and above ground, comprising the underground Colony of Fortuna and the surface landscape of The Orb Vallis. Fortuna is a hub city similar to Cetus in Plains of Eidolon, where players can socialize and pick up bounties and missions from the local Solaris denizens. The surface world of The Orb Vallis is an exotic terrain blanketed with Orokin structures, towering mushroom forests, oceanic flora, and endangered native creatures.

New Combat and Enemy Alert System -- The Corpus occupiers, led by the profit-obsessed Nef Anyo, bring new technology, weapons, systems, and warriors to bear. The game's four quadrants, bases of enemy operations, are patrolled by giant robo-spiders, while mid- and small-size robot spiders appear across the giant terrain. Players will be prompted to liberate Corpus bases for rewards and can even enter their underground bases. They're not small! Alongside new Corpus ground troop variants and new kinds of bounties, a new Danger Rating system challenges players to escape or double down.

Animal Conservation -- Strange, wonderful animals of the Vallis are going extinct due to Corpus cruelty. In between fights, take it down a notch: explore the landscape of Fortuna and use your new skills and tools to lure, track, and capture them for relocation. Hunting starts with tracking animal droppings and following footprints to the right location. Echo-lures mimic the distinct sound of each animal (each animal responds to a different lure sound) and a series of calls and responses then brings the animals into sight. Using stealth and skill to tranq and trap them will help them find a safe, happy home!

New Warframe -- The bloody, powerful Garuda Warframe offers a deadly combination of health-based abilities to wreak havoc on any enemy in her path. Deployment of her skills will leave you vulnerable with low health, but greatly enhanced damage potential. Skillful Tenno will chain together tactics to keep her energy high while skewering enemies, boosting shields, and leaving a trailer of dismembered foes in her wake.

Mining, Fishing, Exploration -- Resources are plentiful in the Vallis if you know how to get them. As players explore the vast new landscape in search of resources (caves, bases, and more), they'll use new mechanics to extract a variety of different ore to upgrade their gear. Fishing makes its mighty return but with a twist. The fish in the Vallis are robotic, so you'll need to use different spears and tips to catch them. Just don't break them!

Fortuna could very well be the most impressive expansion or bi of add-on content for Warframe yet - which is saying a lot. Warframe is currently free-to-play on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and is coming to the Nintendo Switch later this month. No word on when Fortuna will make its way to the console versions outside of the vague - 'soon'.

Our resident Waframe expert Adrian Haas is back at it with a look at the latest Prime frame Chroma. Though it's not one that he has spent much time with, Chroma's abilities are more functional than essential and without a re-work, Chroma Prime is pretty to look at but not much more.


Click Her for Our Hands-On with Chroma Prime

The 36th Warframe to join the ranks of pilot-able frames that Tenno can take out into battle is about to grow this week on PC with the arrival of Revenant. A rather brooding, glowing hunk of space ninja metal that has been "afflicted by Sentient energy", and apparently "rises from the Plains to prey on the weak and unwilling". Trailer and ability breakdown after the jump!

ENTHRALL
Convert a target into a zealous thrall. Thralls turn on their allies and enthrall through damage. On death, they disintegrate into a damaging pillar of energy. The thrall horde remains under Revenant's spell until this Ability runs out.

MESMER SKIN
Become enveloped in Sentient energy, which redirects damage and stuns all those who dare attack. Stunned enemies can be Enthralled at no energy cost.

REAVE
Dash through enemies as a wall of Sentient energy, leeching shields and health from any encountered, enhanced for thralls.

DANSE MACABRE
Erupt with a multitude of Eidolon energy beams and sweep a circle of death around Revenant. Incoming damage is redirected to the beams. Hold fire to boost range and damage, while also increasing energy consumption. Thralls killed by this leave overshield pickups.

The abilities and play style look and sound interesting with the ability to enthrall enemies plus dash through them with a wall of Sentient energy to regain shields and health. The arrival of The Revenant also comes alongside a new weapon Phantasma that can "Irradiate enemies with a continuous stream of deadly plasma". The Revenant update is listed as "coming soon" for those that Warframe on PS4 or Xbox One.

Still in development and under a working title, ahead of this weekend's annual Warframe convention TennoCo developer Digital Extremes was unsure if it was ready to debut the ambitious new co-op mode - Codename: Railjack. Thank the Tenno gods they pulled it off because it looks incredible. Go from land to ship, launch into orbit, and then fight across the stars and board an enemy freighter - seamlessly.

Basically, you need to check this out.



As with all things Warframe it will be a free update that plays into the new open world expansion coming later this year set on Venus called Fortuna. Being able to not only pilot your ship but also man turrets and exit for some space-dog-fighting, it brings a dream that many of us have had had at one stage or another into an already feature-packed and epic sci-fi action-RPG. Also, Warframe first came out in 2013 - so that this is even possible on the current game engine is remarkable. This is the sort of footage you'd expect to see alongside a Warframe 2 announcement.

Warframe is currently free-to-play on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and coming soon to Nintendo Switch.

In that by changing all menu navigation, including frame customisation and foundry stuff, to rely almost entirely on a Virtual Mouse - well, seasoned players found themselves wrestling with a much slower system. And getting frustrated. One such, player, Our very own Adrian Haas - who has put together a piece on the changes, and well, why they don't work. Yet.

And that's yet because the developmes have already hot-fixed and re-added a few key things - like shortcut buttons. You know, the essentials.

In some areas of the game the new control scheme has become slow and painful to use. And it's especially unintuitive when it comes to modding weapons and frames. In the previous iteration of this interface you would simply click on a mod, then click the slot where you wanted it placed. Now you have to drag the cursor with the left stick to your mod, then hold A and simultaneously drag it to it's desired slot for placement. Talk about awkward. It feels like the idea came from that one person, who obviously doesn’t exist, that pauses a heated game of StarCraft to plug in an Xbox One controller so he can select units and micromanage ability use with an analogue stick and a couple of buttons.

Click Here to find Out Why Warframe’s Major Console UI Overhaul Isn’t Exactly Great… Yet

On PC, with consoles to follow at a later date. Warframe players will be well aware that the The Second Dream and The War Within quest-lines found in Warframe offered up some of the most richly detailed stories found in the universe. Also, they know that thanks to Chains of Harrow, and the Apostasy Prologue, things were left a little up in the air.

With the fate of a key character still hanging in the balance. Launching this month, the following teaser does well to set the scene while paying tribute some of the most dedicated players.



Also, be sure to head to the official site for to enter promo code "OLDFRIEND" to get a free Orokin Tea Set Decoration for your Orbiter and a 3-Day Affinity Booster.