Digital Extremes will launch Warframe's new update, Warframe: Tau, in December 2026 across PC, console, and mobile platforms. Alongside a new star system, the update adds a single-player cinematic story, co-op content, and the 67th Warframe, 'Brysko'.
The development team first revealed details of the update during October's Devstream 198. According to Digital Extremes, Warframe, launched in 2013, has over 90 million registered players worldwide.
The stage for this story is 'Tau', a star system beyond the 'Origin System'. Unlike the past portrayed in the December 2025 update 'The Old Peace', it reveals the present day after eons of conflict. The stream showcased the ruined 'Perita' and the hostile forces that have taken control of it.
The two locations players will visit are the crime-syndicate-controlled ring city 'Fornax' and its moon 'Perita'. At Fornax's new social hub, 'MANIFOLD 90-BF', players will meet new characters and rivals while uncovering the lore secrets of the universe. On Perita, players encounter an allied Syndicate, 'The Cleaving Glaive', who scavenge the wasteland. The territory of Tau will continue to expand with subsequent updates.
Cooperative play will feature content based on revamped versions of existing game modes. This includes a revamped Survival mission set on Perita, where players can unlock the content and form online squads with friends to take on the challenge.
The new Warframe, 'Brysko', is a character inspired by detective noir and serves as the protagonist of the single-player cinematic story quest. Actor Matthew Mercer performs his inner monologue, and the Warframe can be earned through gameplay. A new cosmetic item type, the 'Chimera Skin', is also introduced for the first time through Brysko.
In addition to Brysko's ability kit and playstyle, the stream introduced his Hound companion, 'Rain & Shine' fist weapons, and the 'Corecracker' Exalted magnum.
New cosmetics will also be added. 'Koumei Enshoujo', the first Deluxe Skin for 'Koumei', is designed around a femme fatale concept and will be included in the December update. The next Warframe chosen for an 'Heirloom Skin' is 'Nezha'. Co-designed by Digital Extremes along with Mati Tapia and Stephan Sotelting of Sumo Digital, concept art for this skin was revealed, with a release scheduled for early 2027.
Community Director Megan Everett of Digital Extremes stated that further news will be shared during the next Devstream on November 27. She added, "To all our players, new and returning, I want to clarify that the story of the Origin System is far from over. While our focus right now is on Tau, we still have so many stories to tell, and now we just have a wider stage to share them on."
