The entire history of Warframe has taken place in the Origin System, but the conflict that players experience has its genesis in Tau, a system whose colonization by the Orokin gave rise to the Sentients, machines designed for terraforming and with the ability to replicate that started a rebellion. This conflict unleashed the Old War, and within the framework of this confrontation the Tenno were born, who are responsible for piloting the Warframes, a biological weapon. Several centuries after these events and for the first time in ten years, Warframe expands beyond the Origin System to travel to Tau.
In Tau, players will encounter a new star map, a binary system in which Warframe’s narrative will continue to evolve. When Tau is available, the action will focus on Fornax, an orbital city that features a setting straight out of film noir and the science fiction of Blade Runner.
«Though centuries have passed since the Old War, corruption has turned the orbital city of Fornax into a grim mockery of its former splendor, ravaged by crime, disease, and betrayal,» explains Digital Extremes. «As you will discover upon arrival, the past here is more than history: it is a constant threat to the present, where danger lurks around every corner. You better stay alert.» Fornax is presented as an anarchic city, densely populated, plagued by a constant black rain that induces madness and conquered by an addictive nectar called Bloom.
Fornax is a city ruled by organized crime, where enforcers, mercenaries and thugs make up a new faction of sentient enemies that have evolved differently from the well-known rivals of the Origin System. «Although you are more than prepared to take them down, don’t get too confident, especially when the black rain starts to fall…», warns the development team. Hunra, the antagonist and boss of Fornax, is responsible for dishing out violence, fear, and Bloom. The players have to reach him, but first they must overcome his legions of followers, who will do everything possible to earn the favor of their boss.
In this new narrative campaign, players will have the help of Brysko, a warframe who collaborates with Albrecht Entrati to infiltrate the criminal underworld of Fornax. Brysko does not speak, but has an internal monologue voiced by Matthew Mercer. On the other hand (and finally), in Fornax the Tenno will have the opportunity to play Portau, the first original Warframe card game.