The Free2Play MMO Warframe has been captivating its players for many years, but MeinMMO editor Maik Schneider has never mentioned it. Today the expansion “The Duviri Paradox” is released, and the new content pulls Maik into the world of space ninjas for the first time.
The story of Warframe is as changeable as it is exciting. In the first years after the release in 2013, it hovered around 10,000 concurrent players – decent, but not a real breakthrough for such an engaged MMO.
With determination and an ear for the community they fought their way to the top.
Now it has caught up with me too. I attended a presentation by the developers for the latest expansion “The Duviri Paradox” and conducted an interview with Community Director Megan Everett.
- The new, free Warframe expansion “The Duviri Paradox” is online
I will introduce you to some details of the crazy expansion and why I will finally take a look at the game. You can watch the brand new trailer with gameplay here:
“Update is so crazy that new players should be able to play it right away”
Why is the expansion crazy? The Duviri Paradox is a roguelite expansion for the MMO. The responsible parties are taking a bold step, but it also opens up opportunities.
Imagine an MMO that has been delivering content for 10 years and tweaking power fantasies to provide players with motivation. In Warframe, for example, there are over 500 weapons and countless perks and abilities to enhance specific playstyles.
Now all these available abilities are packed into a roguelite game mode.
I start a run in the new open world of Duviri Paradox and as I complete missions, I receive loot and one of three random perks available for selection. There are about 40 perks at launch – more could come in later updates.
Even as a beginner without Warframe experience, I can already create a fierce warrior, which would otherwise only be possible after a long grind. And yes: I can actually start directly as a beginner in the new expansion.
Here lie the opportunities I was talking about. Warframe head Rebecca Ford made it clear during the developer presentation: “Our update is so crazy that new players should be able to play it right away”.
The story behind the current Warframe head Rebecca Ford is also quite interesting:
Roguelite Mode with MMO Content
How does the game mode work? You enter the open world of the Duviri Paradox as a “Drifter”. This means you cannot wear a Warframe. However, some missions will provide you with a Warframe that you automatically equip but cannot keep.
There is a special Warframe mode for veterans in the new open world.
This world is meant to represent the thoughts of a crazy “king” and you are at his mercy. There are a total of six moods, and all change the world visually and bring different challenges.
At the end of a Duviri run, there is a boss fight with a huge dragon worm. The boss also changes with the mood, offering different mechanics.
Whether for beginners or veterans: The Duviri Paradox comes with its own story campaign that must be played through before all roguelite mechanics are available. Beginners also receive a comprehensive tutorial if they choose to start Warframe directly with the Duviri Paradox.
The campaign mission is supposed to last approximately 1.5 hours and contain many cinematics. Later, playing through one of the “moods” in roguelite mode can take up to two hours. Outside of the roguelite mode, players improve their stats to be stronger in the next run.
By the way, the loot from the Duviri Paradox has been limited. The developers see the activity as a kind of “daily quest.” While certain things can be leveled up, the rewards are best on the first run of the day. The moods rotate daily.
Open World, Horses, and Arcanes
What does the update bring for “regular” Warframe players? The focus of Duviri Paradox is clearly on the new roguelite mode. But you also gain access to a completely new open world that can be explored.
For Warframe, this is already the 4th open world update, and similar to previous updates, you can explore the world normally and find missions and things to discover everywhere.
In addition, the “Kaithes” are introduced into the game for all open world areas of Warframe. These are broadly horses that can be visually customized and provide increased movement speed.
Overall, the content for the “classic” Warframe experience is limited. Nevertheless, there is a decent amount of new “Arcanes,” a merchant who will take your Duviri resources, and new melee weapons that can also be used with your Warframes.
Personal Conclusion: A Model for Other PvE MMOs
We have occasionally had articles about Warframe on MeinMMO and I found it quite interesting. However, reports about the high grind factor deterred me and I also never had potential fellow players who wanted to convince me.
Connecting it with the roguelite genre feels like a brilliant move.
Games like Warframe build up content over years, create abilities, synergies, builds, and give players all the tools to be part of this power fantasy – if I toil hard for weeks, sometimes months.
Warframe lets me experience all this in two hours – one time over-powerful and back.
This is something that some PvE MMOs could learn from. Let’s briefly be the character we work so hard and so long on. Show us that the grind is worth it. And on the side, even newcomers can enjoy a super powerful game character.
If you have any questions about the Duviri Paradox or an opinion, leave a comment. Also, let me know if you want to read the report of my first round of Warframe.
If you prefer to read more about Warframe, check this out: From intern to head of Warframe: “I said it could be a problem to be a woman”
