Warframe’s next big content update, Empyrean, was teased back at E3 2019. And now Digital Extremes is revealing a pretty substantial gameplay demo live at Tennocon 2019.
The demo showcases how to access the new Railjack space ship (you’ll need to research the docks and have one in your dojo). Then, it shows off the customisation options you have. Colours, different modules for weapons and system are available. You can even name your Railjack.
Hopping on the Railjack, accompanied by the new Cephalon Cy as your handler, you can traverse the new open space area. Mining new resources can be done by shooting asteroids. And you are essentially traveling to locations where you or your squad will drop into a mission area, which plays like your regular old Warframe star chart. Not everyone needs to drop out, and the crew on the ship can help the away team with buffs.
The spaceship combat is also pretty crazy. You can fly over and embark on other ships, jack those ships and pilot them as your own. There’s also a one-button teleport back to your own ship.
Also, the Archwing used to traversed in space, now have the blink ability as standard for all. This was an ability for one particular Archwing before- and the blink ability proved so crucial in the traversal that almost all players only use that one Archwing. So this is a good change, as heard from the crowd cheering.
Not only that, but you can also send distress calls to initiate a Squad Link. With this, other squads in other parts of the game can participate in a mission designed to help those on the Railjack, completing them will gain rewards of course.
Other than that, there’s also a nemesis system ala Shadow Of Mordor. Referred internally as a Kingpin system, these Kuva Lichs will be able to absorb and learn your warframe’s ability and different for each player.
The previous two Tennocon’s highlight reveals were for the open world Plains Of Eidolon and Fortuna respectively. With Empyrean, Warframe is getting some fresh new content and a graphical overhaul. Digital Extremes are saying that this is a new engine with some fancy new lighting and shadow implementation pointed out early on the demo.
Expect to see Warframe Empyrean dropping sometime later this year for the PS4, PC, Xbox One and Switch. The other update for the cinematic quest The New War, will also be released within this year.