Soulframe, the upcoming free-to-play fantasy action RPG from Digital Extremes, is expanding its early development access through TennoCon 2026, offering players a chance to try the latest build of Soulframe Preludes. The Canadian studio announced that anyone who creates an account on the official website and signs up by July 12 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time will receive permanent access to the current build. Latecomers can still sign up, but will need to wait for weekly raffle invites to get in. Players who gain access can claim an Envoy name and explore the dozens of weapons, Fables, characters, and Pacts currently available in Preludes.
A new boss fight, the Mendicant Reinbreaker, is now available to fight in Soulframe Preludes. It’s described as a “bucking rampage” of an encounter tied to the invading Ode forces. Defeating it frees its mounted, indentured steed, with the possibility of befriending that creature down the line. A new fishing activity has also been added, framed narratively around a character called Grandfather Doyen. Rather than existing as an isolated minigame, it’s woven directly into the game’s story and used as a vehicle for expanding the worldbuilding of Alca, the game’s setting.
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Tempest Bayor, one of Soulframe’s central antagonists, was also unveiled, with Ben Starr playing the role. Bayor is a rare red-armed Envoy aligned with the invading Ode forces, accompanied by a raven companion; his motivations remain unclear, though the Empress of Eldveil appears to know more than she’s letting on. During the Q&A segment, the developers confirmed there are already plans to keep Starr’s character involved in Soulframe beyond just the Warsongs quest.
A Darker Path Through Corruption
The headline reveal of the Devstream was Warsongs, a new Fable quest arriving this fall that introduces a darker, corruption-based progression path. The Vadagar Pact is the new system tied to this path, letting players channel a corrupting substance called Ichor to unlock a distinct new moveset: exploding boomerang throws, ensnaring tendril attacks, and the ability to summon a stampede of corrosive steeds that leave murky pools behind them. Equipping the Vadagar Pact reportedly changes the player’s entire UI to reflect the corrupted theme.
According to the developers, this progression path is conceptually similar to a light/dark morality system, though they cited both Knights of the Old Republic and BioShock’s Little Sisters as points of reference. The team was explicit that choices along this path won’t lock players into a rigid “good or evil” binary. For comparison, they said it’s designed to be more flexible than Warframe’s white/black alignment system. For now, the Vadagar Pact and its corrupted mechanics are tied specifically to this Fable, though the developers left the door open to expanding the concept to future Pacts.
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Perhaps most exciting for existing players is the news that one of the most requested features, mounts, is finally arriving. Digital Extremes confirmed players will be able to test the first version of the mount system in Soulframe Preludes later this year. During the Q&A, the developers added some texture to what the mount interaction will look like. Players will be able to pet their mount outside of a specific hub area called the Nightfold. A bonding system is in development that will involve activities like playing fetch and feeding treats, tied into growing and strengthening the relationship with a mount over time. Players who have completed the Orangal quest currently have a puppy companion, which developers referenced as an early piece of this system.
For players who enjoy the visual flair of weapon design, a new sword-whip weapon shown in demo footage was inspired in part by Ivy’s weapon from the Soulcalibur series. According to the developers, the weapon started life as a more conventional great sword, but the team felt it lacked personality and eventually evolved into its current whip-like form for a more distinct, aggressive feel. It reportedly features input-timing mechanics that reward precise button presses with multi-hit combos. The developers also confirmed enthusiasm for boomerang-type weapons, tying it to the same new weapon-handling type introduced with the sword-whip.