Digital Extremes opened its free open alpha for fantasy action RPG Soulframe on November 6, 2026, with the Verse of the Veilands update introducing rideable wolves, environmental progression, and cooperative play improvements.
Digital Extremes, the developer behind Warframe, launched the free open alpha for its fantasy action RPG Soulframe on November 6, 2026, removing the invitation requirement for PC players. The update, Preludes 17: Verse of the Veilands, adds rideable Omen Wolves, a reworked progression system centered on reclaiming corrupted regions, and enhanced cooperative play features. Players can now access the alpha through Soulframe’s standalone launcher, with the Founders program remaining active for exclusive rewards. The game has been in invite-only alpha testing since December 2023, with access primarily distributed through invitations, referral codes and optional Founders purchases.
Cleanse Siphons to Restore Regions Through Cooperative Play
The Verse of the Veilands update introduces an environmental world progression system
where players reclaim corrupted regions by cleansing siphons that drain energy from the land. This mechanic restores wildlife, resources, and activities like fishing, while also unlocking new loot. Lead Designer Scott McGregor and Creative Director Geoff Crookes emphasized cooperative play as central to the game, with matchmaking improvements in development. It’s designed to be that way,
Crookes said, highlighting the game’s co-op focus. Digital Extremes revealed the release date at Soulframe Devstream 18 on October 30, along with information about Preludes 17: Verse of the Veilands, a major update set for late November.
Players who raise wolf pups to maturity gain rideable Omen Wolves, a feature requiring progress through the Veilands to obtain the Barn Biscuit recipe, then preparing it with Verminia. The update also introduces Ode Shrike, a new character Pact built around trapping and controlling enemies, with abilities like spike traps and balloon darts. PC Gamer reported that the update aims to improve onboarding, giving players much more ownership
over early decisions, though the full game remains in development. The game’s standalone launcher, rather than Steam, is required for access, with no console versions announced.
Developer Insights and Future Plans
During a presentation, Crookes described the Midrath region as much more unforgiving and harsh at first glance,
reflecting the game’s increased challenge. The Verse of the Veilands update will expand the world’s environmental progression system and include additional writing to enhance worldbuilding. McGregor called the update one of the biggest, most violent changes
to the structure of the game in a long while. The game’s focus on melee-focused fantasy combat, exploration and cooperative gameplay positions it as a unique entry in the genre.
Despite the open alpha, Soulframe remains an early alpha playtest rather than Soulframe’s full release, with no confirmed release date or console ports. The game’s Steam store page exists for wishlisting but is not used for the alpha, requiring players to download the standalone launcher. Linux and Steam Deck players will have to jump through a few extra hoops to get the game running, while console availability remains uncertain. The optional Founders program will continue to be available, providing exclusive Pacts, weapons, armor, and other rewards for players wishing to support development. Players can register an account via the official Soulframe website, download Digital Extremes’ launcher, and start playing on Windows PC without needing an invitation or payment.
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Free Alpha Test Gathers Player Feedback for Development
In contrast to a typical Early Access release, Soulframe’s Open Preludes continues as a free alpha test aimed at collecting feedback during ongoing development. The game’s focus on melee-focused fantasy combat, exploration and cooperative gameplay positions it as a unique entry in the genre. The final (final_vfinal_finalfinal.exe) version of all content in Verse of the Veilands will be showcased in a stream later today on the Soulframe Twitch channel. Player feedback indicating difficulty in reaching the stage where they could freely explore the open world prompted the team to implement a more straightforward introduction.