# Warframe Expands: A First Look at Tau, the New Solar System
Digital Extremes’s iconic looty-shooty mechabody game, Warframe, is set to expand its universe with the introduction of a second solar system, Tau. This new addition follows a preview in last year’s expansion, The Old Peace. During Tennocon, the annual Warframe and Soulframe expo, the developers unveiled a first look at Tau, which serves as the home of the game’s Sentients faction.
## The Dark Appeal of Tau
Tau promises a rich and engaging environment steeped in noir theming. The first of its two initial areas, Fornax, presents a city rife with corruption and addiction, particularly to a substance called the Bloom. Players will be introduced to Brysko, a trench-coated “Chimera Warframe” with a voice reminiscent of film noir detectives, brought to life by Critical Role’s Matt Mercer.
Fornax is described as a deeply divided, almost grotesque place, perhaps metaphorically built within the remnants of a giant corpse. Its layout defies traditional expectations, featuring structures that resemble bronchioles rather than conventional alleyways. Players can expect a surrealistic experience akin to a H.R. Giger-inspired redesign of a major city.
## The Characters and Environment
Within Fornax, players will encounter a variety of grotesque and fascinating residents, including biomechanical machines, each with their peculiarities. For example, one character is a talking hood ornament, while another combines two laden heavy machines fused at the waist. The environment ranges from the lower levels, where those addicted to the Bloom congregate, to the higher tiers filled with vintage-inspired hovercars, ultimately culminating in a neon-lit casino featuring holographic performers and a new in-game card game called Portau.
In Brysko’s introductory mission, players will interact with the city’s ruler, a crimelord known as the Hunra, characterized as a half-vaporised goblin in a tattered tuxedo. Combat will see Brysko utilizing explosive playing cards along with a grappleshot for dynamic movement through both enemies and the urban landscape.
## Thematic Depth
Fornax is not just a visually engaging environment; it is also imbued with themes of real-life addiction and gambling, with Digital Extremes aiming to reflect these issues through the gameplay and narrative. More details on these themes, along with further insights from the developers regarding Warframe and its companion title Soulframe, are forthcoming.
## What to Expect from the Expansion
Scheduled for release this year, the Tau expansion will introduce not only the new solar system but also a wealth of associated content. Players will encounter new mission types, enemies, and further storylines involving established characters, including Brysko’s association with Albrecht Entrati. Recently, developers even showcased a dormant Sentient body added to the game, with customization options for skin and gender presentation.
Additionally, an upcoming update, Iceblade of Narin, will feature a new ice element Warframe and a rework for the classic Banshee character. Players can also look forward to a mini role-playing adventure slated for August that will utilize a messaging system from the time-traveling expansion Warframe: 1999, alongside new music from the in-game boyband On-lyne.
## Conclusion
As Warframe continues to evolve, Tau stands out as a significant expansion, offering players a unique blend of storytelling, thematic depth, and engaging gameplay. While new players might find themselves needing to navigate through older content to access this exciting new section, the effort promises to be rewarding. With rich environments and compelling characters, Warframe keeps pushing the boundaries of its universe—promising that it truly contains a bit of everything for its fans.
