At TennoCon 2018, an expansion for Warframe with a new open-world map on Venus was announced: Fortuna. Part of the update will be a system that allows you to catch animals. Our author Leya spoke with Rebecca Ford, the lead Community Manager, about the animal hunting.
What is the new hunting feature about? You will encounter animals that are endangered on the new open-world map, Orb Vallis. The Corpus faction is conducting experiments on the animals and gradually exterminating them. As a Tenno, you will try to prevent this. You will catch the animals to bring them to safety.
Keys to Hunting are Lures and Droppings
To catch animals, you must find and lure them: You will be able to equip yourself with special gear for animal hunting. With the gear, you will investigate traces of animals, such as their footprints or droppings. This includes a type of trumpet with which you must perfectly imitate the sounds of the animals. This will attract them. If you shoot a tranquilizer arrow at the animal, you can capture it, and it will be teleported away.
Before the animals are teleported away, you will receive an evaluation and find out the type, name, or gender of the creature – Pokémon meets Warframe.
Interview about the new Pokémon feature: Can we visit our animals?
Mein-MMO: I am a huge Pokémon fan and was extremely excited when I saw the animal feature. I first wondered: What happens to the animals when we catch them?
Rebecca Ford: They end up in a wildlife reserve. They will be relocated so that the Corpus can no longer access them. The idea behind it is that the Corpus have invaded their environment and are exterminating the animals there. Venus is a huge planet, which is why the animals can be brought from the dangerous environment to a faraway and safe world.
Mein-MMO: Do we then also have access to the animals? Can we see our collection and visit the animals?
Rebecca Ford: I hope so! Unfortunately, I don’t know what the exact plan is here yet. But I really want that.
Mein-MMO: Could you tell me a bit more about the animals? What kind of animals are there and how did you develop them?
Rebecca Ford: The animal we showed in the presentation is the Virmink. It is a weasel that also resembles a dog a bit. It is larger than the animals on the plains of Eidolon. The other animals have adapted to winter, as it is icy on Venus. You will encounter small snow mice or strange Yeti-like creatures, and they are all really cute. It actually strongly resembles Pokémon.
Mein-MMO: Are the animals based on anything? Are they more modeled after animals from our world, or can we also expect alien-like designs?
Rebecca Ford: I wouldn’t say aliens directly. But they can look very different. There will be animals that you have definitely never seen before.
New Do-it-yourself Pet: The Pet Moa comes with the Fortuna update
While we’re on the topic of animals, we can also talk about the Moa.
The third pet is coming to Warframe: So far, you have been able to breed Kavats and Kubrows and have them fight as loyal companions by your side. With the Pet Moa, the third pet that can accompany you on missions is coming. Unlike the dogs and cats, you will have to build your Moa. You can do that in Fortuna itself, in the underground colony of Solaris United.
What is a Moa? These are small robots belonging to the Corpus faction. They are basically walking turrets that fire at their enemies. Moas have a few tricks up their sleeves and can perform elemental stuns.
Whether we will be able to visit our animal collection on Venus remains to be seen. At least it seems to be a wish of the developers, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Everything you need to know about the new Fortuna update in Warframe can be read in our large hub:
