Warframe’s The Old Peace launches December 10, 2025 across all platforms, and it’s bringing the game’s most significant narrative expansion in years. Digital Extremes is finally pulling back the curtain on Tau, the distant star system where the Orokin and their Sentient creations brokered a fragile peace before everything collapsed into the Old War. For a game celebrating 12 years of continuous updates and 85 million registered players, going back to explore its foundational conflict represents a massive creative risk that could redefine what Warframe’s ongoing story becomes.
The update drops one day before The Game Awards, where Digital Extremes will have a presence during gaming’s biggest night. This timing isn’t accidental. The Old Peace serves as setup for an even larger Tau-focused expansion coming later in 2026, establishing storylines and mechanics that will carry forward for potentially years. It’s the kind of ambitious, long-term storytelling that only a live service game with Warframe’s longevity can attempt.
What The Old Peace Actually Includes
The Old Peace isn’t just a story quest. It’s a massive content drop that touches nearly every system in the game while introducing completely new gameplay modes and mechanics. Digital Extremes calls it a major update, and the feature list backs up that claim.
Core additions coming December 10:
- New cinematic quest exploring memories of the Old War in Tau
- Two new game modes: The Descendia and The Perita Rebellion
- Massive expansion to the Focus School system with Tauron Strikes ultimate abilities
- Uriel, the 63rd Warframe with a demonic aesthetic
- New Bayonet weapon class occupying both primary and melee slots
- Vinquibus, the first Bayonet featuring a distinctive Garand ping reload sound
- New Protoframes with expanded romance options
- Complete visual overhaul for Operators and Drifters
- Voruna Deluxe cosmetics bundle
- Gyre Prime and two new Prime weapons
- Limited appearance by Excalibur Prime
- New Anarchs enemy faction with meddlesome mini-bosses
The Story Behind The Old Peace
Using Albrecht’s Dark Refractory technology, players delve into memories thought lost to time. These aren’t just flashbacks. You’re experiencing the Tenno’s own repressed memories of Tau during the period when Orokin and Sentient attempted peaceful coexistence. With help from a new Sentient friend named Adis Truth-bloom, you’ll uncover what really happened to transform these factions into bitter enemies.
The quest takes place on Perita, a moon in the Tau system that became a major battlefield. You’ll traverse environments filled with Dax soldiers, early Grineer forces, and Sentients during this volatile peace period. The narrative promises to explore how a truce that should have prevented centuries of war instead collapsed spectacularly, setting up everything players have experienced in Warframe’s 12-year history.
Game Modes That Change Everything
The Descendia and The Perita Rebellion represent completely new gameplay modes built from the ground up rather than variations on existing content. Community Director Megan Everett explained these additions push Warframe beyond familiar territory into fresh gameplay that aligns with modern player expectations for a game over a decade old.
The Perita Rebellion specifically ties into Operation: Blood of Perita, a limited-time event running December 16 through January 6. Players complete Rebellion runs to earn Marks of Valiance, which can be exchanged with Vice Regent Grand Carnus Roathe for new and returning customizations. It’s the kind of integrated event structure that keeps live service communities engaged beyond just experiencing story content once.
| Feature | What It Means | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| The Descendia | New game mode with descending gameplay mechanics | Fresh gameplay loop separate from existing content |
| The Perita Rebellion | Repeatable mode tied to Operation event | Earn exclusive rewards through December-January |
| Tauron Strikes | Ultimate abilities for Focus Schools | Massive power spike for Operator/Drifter gameplay |
| Bayonet Class | Weapons occupying primary and melee slots | Seamless switching between ranged and melee combat |
| Focus Expansion | New nodes requiring more Focus investment | Extended progression for veteran players |
The Focus System Gets Its Biggest Overhaul
The Focus School expansion arrives in three parts. First, Operators and Drifters receive complete visual overhauls bringing them up to modern standards. Second, the Focus tree itself gets massive additions with new nodes in each school requiring significant Focus investment. Third, and most exciting, are the Tauron Strikes – ultimate abilities that dramatically increase the power ceiling for Operator and Drifter gameplay.
Digital Extremes is explicitly warning players to bank Focus now while they can. The new nodes will require substantial investment, and players who’ve already maxed their Focus trees will have fresh progression to chase. For a 12-year-old game constantly fighting power creep and progression stagnation, this represents a smart way to give veterans meaningful goals without invalidating existing builds.
Uriel: The Devil Warframe
The 63rd Warframe embraces a demonic aesthetic unlike anything currently in the game. Uriel’s signature weapon, Vinquibus, leads the new Bayonet class by occupying both primary and melee weapon slots. This allows seamless blending between precision marksmanship and brutal melee combat, with smooth transitions that don’t require cycling through weapon wheels or awkward button combinations.
The Garand ping reload sound is a brilliant touch. For anyone unfamiliar, the M1 Garand rifle makes a distinctive metallic ping when its en bloc clip ejects after firing the last round. It’s one of gaming’s most satisfying audio cues, and including it in a futuristic space ninja game shows Digital Extremes’ commitment to making weapons feel good regardless of setting.
Beyond Uriel, new Protoframes expand the romantic options players can pursue. Warframe’s dating sim elements emerged as surprisingly popular features in recent updates, giving players downtime activities that flesh out character relationships. The Old Peace continues this trend, presumably letting players romance characters from the Tau period with all the narrative complications that implies.
The Excalibur Prime Situation
Excalibur Prime holds legendary status in Warframe’s community as the game’s original Founder-exclusive reward. When Warframe launched in 2013, players who backed the game during its earliest days received Excalibur Prime as a permanent exclusive. Digital Extremes promised it would never be available again, maintaining that exclusivity for 12 years.
The Old Peace includes a limited appearance by Excalibur Prime, though exact details remain unclear. This doesn’t necessarily mean the Warframe becomes obtainable. It could be a story appearance, a temporary playable section, or involvement in cinematics. Whatever form it takes, bringing Excalibur Prime into new content without breaking the Founder promise requires careful handling that respects both original backers and newer players.
Why This Matters After 12 Years
Warframe launched in March 2013 as a scrappy free-to-play shooter from a studio that nearly went bankrupt multiple times. It survived when competitors with larger budgets failed because Digital Extremes kept evolving the game rather than milking it dry. Twelve years later, with 85 million registered players and consistent peaks around 80-85,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, Warframe remains one of gaming’s most successful live service titles.
The Old Peace represents a creative risk that established games rarely take. Going back to foundational lore and actually showing players the Old War could undermine 12 years of carefully maintained mystery. If the execution doesn’t match fan expectations built over a decade, backlash will be severe. But if Digital Extremes nails it, they create narrative foundation for years of future content while satisfying longtime players’ desire to finally see these legendary events firsthand.
Recent player retention rates reached all-time highs according to statements from Digital Extremes leadership. The Vallis Undermined update in October 2025 pushed concurrent players from 55-60K averages to 80-85K, over a 30 percent increase. Improvements to the new player experience, streamlined progression before major story quests like The Second Dream, and consistent quality-of-life updates are paying off with sustained growth rather than the typical spike-and-decline pattern most live service games experience.
What Comes After The Old Peace
Digital Extremes explicitly states The Old Peace sets the stage for an even larger Tau-focused update arriving later in 2026. This two-part approach mirrors how they handled previous major expansions, using one update to establish systems and story before expanding dramatically in the follow-up.
TennoCon 2026 tickets are already on sale, suggesting next summer’s fan convention will reveal what this larger Tau expansion entails. If history is any guide, expect cinematic reveals, live gameplay demonstrations, and announcements that shape Warframe’s direction for the next several years. The Old Peace is the appetizer. The 2026 Tau expansion is the main course.
Meanwhile, Warframe’s Android closed beta continues, potentially opening the game to mobile audiences for the first time. The technical challenges of running Warframe’s complex systems on mobile devices are substantial, but successfully launching on phones and tablets could introduce millions of new players to a game that’s maintained relevance for over a decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Warframe’s The Old Peace release?
The Old Peace launches December 10, 2025 simultaneously across all platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Digital Extremes announced the release date during Devstream 191 on November 27, 2025, just two weeks before launch.
Is The Old Peace free or paid DLC?
The Old Peace is a completely free update available to all Warframe players at no cost. Warframe operates on a free-to-play model where all story content, quests, and major expansions are free. Monetization comes from cosmetics, convenience items, and optional purchases, never story content.
What is the Old War in Warframe?
The Old War is Warframe’s foundational conflict between the Orokin Empire and their Sentient creations. It took place centuries before the game’s present timeline and resulted in the fall of the Orokin civilization. The Old Peace shows a period of fragile truce in the Tau system before full war erupted, finally revealing events players have only heard referenced for 12 years.
What is a Bayonet weapon in Warframe?
Bayonets are a new weapon class introduced in The Old Peace that occupy both primary and melee weapon slots simultaneously. This allows seamless transitions between precision ranged combat and brutal melee attacks without weapon switching. Vinquibus, Uriel’s signature weapon, is the first Bayonet and features a distinctive Garand ping reload sound.
Do I need to complete specific quests before The Old Peace?
Digital Extremes hasn’t specified exact prerequisites yet, but The Old Peace continues Warframe’s ongoing narrative. Players should expect to need completion of major story quests like The Second Dream, The War Within, The Sacrifice, The New War, and Whispers in the Walls. The game typically makes quest requirements clear when attempting to start new cinematic content.
How many players does Warframe have in 2025?
Warframe has over 85 million registered players as of TennoCon 2025 in July. Concurrent player counts on Steam alone average 80-85,000 players following recent updates, representing over 30 percent growth from earlier in the year. The game continues attracting new players while maintaining high retention rates among veterans.
Will Excalibur Prime be available in The Old Peace?
The Old Peace includes a limited appearance by Excalibur Prime, but Digital Extremes hasn’t clarified if this means the Warframe becomes obtainable. Excalibur Prime has been exclusive to 2013 Founders for 12 years under a promise it would never be available again. The appearance likely means story involvement rather than breaking Founder exclusivity.
What is Operation: Blood of Perita?
Operation: Blood of Perita is a limited-time event running December 16 through January 6 where players complete The Perita Rebellion mode to earn Marks of Valiance. These can be exchanged with Vice Regent Grand Carnus Roathe for new and returning customizations. It’s the companion event to The Old Peace’s story content.
The Verdict on 12 Years of Evolution
The Old Peace represents everything Warframe has become over 12 years of continuous evolution. It’s ambitious storytelling that finally answers questions players have asked since 2013. It’s new gameplay modes that push beyond familiar territory. It’s systems overhauls that give veterans meaningful progression while making the game more accessible to newcomers. And it’s all delivered free to 85 million players across every major platform simultaneously.
Whether The Old Peace sticks the landing depends on execution nobody outside Digital Extremes has experienced yet. But the ambition deserves recognition. In an era where live service games chase quarterly profits and sacrifice long-term vision for short-term engagement metrics, Warframe continues building toward something larger. The Old Peace sets up 2026’s even bigger Tau expansion, which will likely set up whatever comes after that, in a continuous narrative that treats players like invested stakeholders rather than extractable revenue sources.
December 10 arrives in less than two weeks. Tenno worldwide will finally see Tau, experience the fragile peace that preceded centuries of war, and discover what really happened to transform the Orokin Empire and their Sentient creations into bitter enemies. After 12 years of references, hints, and carefully maintained mystery, Warframe is finally showing us the war that started everything. And whatever happens next, it’s guaranteed to be spectacular.