Warframe: Tau launches free in December with a new star system and the Brysko Warframe

After years of exploring the Origin System, the Tenno are preparing to travel somewhere much farther away.

Digital Extremes has revealed new details about Warframe: Tau, a major expansion designed to open another chapter of the game's universe.

The Canadian developer dedicated its October 30 Devstream 198 to the upcoming release.

Tau is scheduled to arrive free in December 2026 across supported PC, console and mobile platforms.

The exact launch date has not yet been announced.

A new star system beyond the Origin System

Tau will introduce a separate Star Chart representing a new system beyond Warframe's familiar destinations.

The expansion is intended to provide a foundation for additional environments, factions and stories.

Digital Extremes describes Tau as a region that has suffered through ages of conflict.

The Old Peace update, released in December 2025, explored parts of its history.

The new expansion will reveal what the system has become in the present.

Importantly, Digital Extremes says the Origin System will not be abandoned.

The developer intends to keep telling stories within the existing regions while expanding the new destinations over time.

Tau is therefore an addition to Warframe's universe rather than a replacement for its current locations.

Fornax is a crime-ridden Sentient metropolis

One of the main locations is Fornax, an immense ring-shaped Sentient city.

Once a remarkable center of civilization, Fornax has fallen into corruption and organized crime.

The city is covered by a mysterious black rain, while violent groups control much of its territory.

Digital Extremes describes an environment filled with dangerous neighborhoods, criminal organizations and characters with competing interests.

At the center of the underworld is Hunra, a powerful crime boss who maintains control through fear and violence.

Players will encounter his followers while investigating the city's secrets.

A new enemy faction, the Fornax Drowners, will also appear.

These Sentient opponents have evolved differently from the enemies previously encountered in the Origin System.

Their complete combat behavior and abilities have not yet been detailed.

Perita introduces new cooperative activities

The second major destination highlighted during Devstream 198 is Perita.

This moon has been devastated by the conflicts that shaped Tau.

Its ruined environments will introduce additional enemies and activities.

Digital Extremes specifically confirms a revamped Survival mission variant.

Players will be able to tackle the challenges of Perita cooperatively.

However, the developer has not yet explained every rule associated with the new mode.

There is no indication that it will replace the existing Survival activities across Warframe.

Perita will also introduce a new allied Syndicate known as The Cleaving Glaive.

The group searches the devastated environment for resources and secrets connected to Tau's past.

Its characters and motivations will form part of the new region's ongoing storytelling.

MANIFOLD 90-BF becomes a new social hub

Fornax will feature a dedicated social hub called MANIFOLD 90-BF.

The location will introduce new characters and storylines connected to the city's criminal organizations.

It will also provide a place to encounter important figures associated with the expansion.

Digital Extremes intends to use the hub to support the developing stories surrounding Fornax.

The complete list of services and merchants has not yet been revealed.

Its existence and role as a social destination are confirmed.

Brysko becomes Warframe's 67th playable frame

The October presentation also provided a closer look at Brysko.

Warframe's 67th frame draws heavily from the detective noir genre.

The character works alongside Albrecht Entrati to infiltrate the criminal Sentient underworld.

Brysko will serve as the central figure of a new single-player cinematic narrative quest.

Although the character remains silent to others, his internal thoughts will be voiced.

Digital Extremes has cast Matthew Mercer to perform the English-language inner monologue.

Mercer is widely known for his roles in video games and animation.

This narrative approach allows Brysko to reflect on events while maintaining a largely silent external presence.

The full integration of his internal commentary into the quest will become clearer when the expansion launches.

A revolver, fist weapons and a Hound companion

Brysko's combat equipment reflects the character's detective-inspired identity.

He can use Rain & Shine, a pair of fist weapons intended for close-range encounters.

Another signature weapon is Corecracker, an Exalted magnum revolver.

A Hound companion provides additional combat capabilities.

Digital Extremes also showcased abilities associated with playing cards, risk-taking and crowd control.

The combination is intended to differentiate Brysko from the many Warframes already available.

The developer confirms that the character can be earned through gameplay or unlocked immediately through the Warframe Market.

The full acquisition requirements and crafting progression have not yet been explained.

Portau introduces an original card game

Tau will also add an unusual activity to the Warframe universe.

Players visiting the casinos of Fornax will be able to discover Portau, Warframe's first original card game.

The game uses distinctive suits known as Blooms, Cores, Moons and Suns.

The feature helps reinforce the personality of Fornax and its gambling culture.

However, Digital Extremes has not yet revealed every rule or reward associated with the activity.

Physical merchandise inspired by Portau is also available for preorder.

Those products should not be confused with a mandatory purchase requirement for the in-game activity.

New cosmetic designs for Koumei and Nezha

The expansion will be accompanied by additional cosmetic content.

Koumei is receiving a Deluxe Skin called Koumei Enshoujo.

Its design incorporates elements associated with Fornax and its noir-inspired aesthetic.

The cosmetic is scheduled to arrive alongside Tau in December.

Digital Extremes also revealed concept art for a Nezha Heirloom Skin.

However, that appearance is planned for early 2027 rather than the initial Tau launch.

The developer also introduces Chimera Skin, a new cosmetic category associated with the expansion.

Warframe surpasses 90 million players

Digital Extremes says Warframe has attracted more than 90 million players worldwide since its 2013 debut.

That figure represents a cumulative audience across multiple platforms and hardware generations.

It should not be interpreted as the number of players simultaneously active or an estimate of daily activity.

Tau represents another major step in the evolution of a free-to-play game that has continued receiving substantial updates for more than a decade.

The developer continues to combine cinematic single-player storytelling, cooperative combat and extensive customization.

More details are coming November 27

Warframe: Tau is scheduled to launch in December 2026.

The expansion will be free across supported platforms, although Digital Extremes has not announced an exact release date.

A second Tau-focused Devstream is scheduled for November 27.

That presentation is expected to provide more details about the expansion's systems, activities and story.

For now, the confirmed features include a new Star Chart, the destinations of Fornax and Perita, additional cooperative missions and a cinematic quest centered on Brysko.

One of the main remaining questions concerns the scale of Tau at launch.

Digital Extremes presents Fornax and Perita as the initial destinations of a system intended to grow through future updates.