The Warframe community is bracing itself for drama. With *The Old Peace* expansion on the horizon for next year, pushing the story into new directions and casting yet more light on the tragic history of the Tenno, players have been busy preparing for any potential narrative haymakers that come our way.
These big moments in Warframe often feature reveals that alter how we interpret decade-old lore. As we make our way to Tau, there’s a lot to get ready for what could be Warframe’s biggest story moment to date. Recent updates have delivered multiple heavy shifts in narrative and character development—from uncovering the mysteries of Albrecht Entrati and The Indifference to the Drifter gradually revealing their origins, how they survived Duviri, and the toll it took on them.
Things have been tense, and the journey to Tau promises yet more emotional impact.
### A Fun Breather: The Vallis Undermind Update
Because of the weighty narrative developments ahead, the recent Vallis Undermind update was designed to be a bit more fun—a chance to relax and explore the tunnels beneath Fortuna. This update introduces a new playful trickster, the 62nd Warframe, Nokko. Plus, players get to once again humiliate the Corpus overlord, Nef Anyo. Perfect.
I had the chance to sit down with Megan Everett, Warframe’s Community Director, to chat about the update and what might be next for Warframe.
### Revisiting Familiar Grounds
The return to Fortuna and Orb Vallis follows a recent pattern in Warframe—the team revisits old in-game geography, bringing fresh content to familiar locations.
“I think what’s good about our open worlds is that we don’t restrict ourselves in the way that we set it up and make it so that it can’t expand,” says Everett.
“Plains of Eidolon, for example — we went back last year with the Koumei & The Five Fates update, which was something we never thought we’d do when we first made Plains. But it fits the narrative, and you see that a lot. When you do these open worlds—Plains or Vallis back in the day—you always hear, ‘Please don’t make this a content island and walk away.’ That’s definitely not our intention, but obviously, we need to pick and choose where we grow the story. Orb Vallis was one we wanted to revisit.”
### A Palette Cleanser Before the Storm
For this update, the brief was simple. The team wanted to revisit Fortuna and Orb Vallis with an update that felt fun—a kind of palette cleanser before the more serious business that reminds us all the Origin System is eternally at war with itself.
A centerpiece of this lighter tone is Nokko, the mushroom-themed Warframe with a unique and playful kit. Nokko plants small patches of mushrooms that lull enemies to sleep and buff allies before dropping enlarged spores on opponents that can “nuke” them into oblivion. His idle animations and ability to bounce around on mushrooms or even transform into a tiny fungi called a Sprodling add a youthful whimsy to his playstyle.
The community has broadly embraced Nokko’s quirky vibe. But after 62 Warframes, designing each new one to feel fresh is understandably a creative challenge.
“I think every Warframe falls into that category because there are some I don’t play due to my playstyle, but someone else might be absolutely obsessed with them, and that’s fine,” Everett explains. “That’s why we have 62 currently—for you to play the ones you want to play. After 12 years, we really have to stretch our creative thinking to define what makes each Warframe stand apart.”
Nokko certainly stands in a league of his own. With the right build, he can run missions without using weapons—blanketing enemies in spores and mushrooms while bringing a fun energy to the battlefield.
“He [Nokko] developed naturally from our desire to revisit Orb Vallis,” Everett adds. “What came first was the setting. Initially, we had a different idea, but it evolved into The Vallis Undermind. Revisiting Orb Vallis made us notice the persistent fungi everywhere, even post-*The New War.* That inspired Nokko’s mushroom theme.”
Creative Director Reb Ford wanted Nokko to feel fun and whimsical—a vibe akin to Yareli’s younger brother, which shaped his goofy and playful personality. The tile set inspired the Warframe, and Nokko’s tone inspired the design of the Deepmines.
### Build Depth and Player Appeal
Warframe players appreciate build depth, favoring diverse modding strategies and abilities. Nokko has shaken things up, appealing even to players who might not have expected to enjoy him upon his reveal.
“I’ve seen people play with the ‘floor is lava,’ jumping only on the mushrooms,” Everett laughs. “We didn’t expect that to become a meta, but it’s really fun—and that’s exactly what we wanted Nokko to be. When designing a Warframe, we try not to fixate on whether it’ll be the new meta everyone wants to play.”
### The Deepmines: Polishing the Experience
While Nokko brings a fresh tone, it’s the Deepmines—the new tunnels beneath Fortuna—that hint at the ongoing polish the developers are applying. Warframe today is dramatically different from when it launched 13 years ago. Changes have ranged from dramatic to subtle, but the Deepmines point to a subtle, lasting evolution.
In the tunnels, players take on bounty missions—multi-stage tasks with rewards at each step. This system is not new, but here it feels smoother, faster, and more polished than ever, with virtually zero downtime. The physical space of the Deepmines invites players to enjoy Warframe’s elegant movement system, allowing quicker traversal than usual.
I mentioned to Everett that it felt respectful of players’ time. In an era where many games redefine player engagement, this design philosophy is refreshing.
### A Glimpse at What’s Next: Descendia
This idea of respecting player time will be central to an upcoming mode called *Descendia*, set to be part of *The Old Peace*. Although not the main topic of our conversation, Everett shared some early info.
“On this Friday’s stream, we’re revealing a new mode called The Descendia,” Everett explained. “You know we have a new Warframe coming, Uriel, the devil Warframe. This mode drops you down into hell—21 floors where you descend, facing escalating mini-boss fights, hitting checkpoints, earning rewards, and encountering characters along the way. It’s really cool.”
A mode like this could become a slog if not carefully designed with balanced action and moments of respite. Given how smooth the flow of the Deepmines is, I expect *Descendia* to hit the mark.
What awaits at the bottom? Possibly the glory of victory or the sting of defeat—as it should be.
### Warframe’s Enduring Strength
This cycle of building on the past without forgetting it is part of Warframe’s core strength. Balancing attention across Warframe’s wildly varied aspects is challenging, but there’s no denying the game’s resilience. Surviving 13 years in a competitive market where similar games quickly fall by the wayside is a testament to the developers’ ongoing efforts to improve and the ever-ready community offering feedback.
For now, we can enjoy Nokko and explore the Deepmines.
With *The Old Peace* looming, all I can think about are those trenches from the trailer—waiting to be filled with the dead and dying. The Vallis Undermind provides a timely, grand distraction before the looming war.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146609/warframe-community-director-interview-nokko-vallis-undermind-megan-everett