Soulframe Opens Its Doors: Digital Extremes to Launch Open Prelude This November

After spending two years in a closed alpha state, Digital Extremes has announced that its free-to-play fantasy RPG Soulframe will enter an “open prelude” phase for all players starting November 6th. This move marks a significant shift for the developers, who are moving away from restrictive access keys to allow anyone to download the game directly from Soulframe.com.

The Verse of the Veilands Update

The transition to an open state arrives alongside the game’s 17th major update, titled Verse of the Veilands. According to reporting from Rock Paper Shotgun, this update introduces rideable adult wolves, which players can raise from Omen wolfpups by locating specific ingredients for special biscuits. Additionally, the update adds a new “Ode Shrike” character loadout, a poacher-themed class specializing in spike traps, bolas, and a balloon dart ability reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V.

Structural Changes and Developer Anxiety

Perhaps the most impactful change in this update is a “region purging” system designed to help guide players through the game’s mission structure, referred to as “votives.” Players will need to cleanse landscapes corrupted by the Ode faction to restore the environment. Creative director Geoff Crookes and lead designer Scott McGregor admitted to being “nervous” about this change during a roundtable session, noting that it disrupts the game’s previously “cosy” and beautiful atmosphere in favor of a more unforgiving and directed experience.

Despite these concerns, the developers believe the shift is necessary to solve retention issues. McGregor noted that many players previously struggled to understand the game’s direction after finishing the initial Fables quests. The new system aims to provide a clearer “breadcrumb” trail to keep players engaged, with the option to return to the more open, explorative gameplay once the regional corruption is cleared.

Why it matters

For players, this update represents the transition of Soulframe from an exclusive, invitation-only project to a publicly accessible experience. The introduction of a more structured mission system addresses common feedback from early testers who found the game’s open-ended nature confusing. If you felt lost in previous versions of the game, the Verse of the Veilands update is explicitly designed to guide your journey more effectively through the world map.

While the game is opening to the public, Digital Extremes indicates that the paid Founders program will remain unchanged and that they may still utilize smaller, closed preview builds for testing future features. Players interested in starting fresh should keep an eye on official channels regarding a potential character reset feature, which the developers are currently investigating to allow users to experience new content without losing their progress.