Soulframe, Digital Extremes' free fantasy action game, opens its alpha to every Windows PC player on Friday 6 November through a programme called Soulframe Open Preludes. Until now the game has been invite-only. Anyone can now create an account at soulframe.com, download the launcher and play for free. The studio hasn't given a start time for 6 November.

Digital Extremes announced the date on 30 October during Soulframe Devstream 18, which was scheduled for 3:30 pm ET (19:30 UTC). Creative Director Geoff Crookes said: "It feels a little scary to finally open the gates like this," adding that more players now will help the team "inform the direction Soulframe takes".

Infographic with a timeline from the invite-only Preludes to Open Preludes on 6 November and the Verse of the Veilands update, with cards for price, platform, invites and the Omen Wolf mount

What Open Preludes includes

Open Preludes is still an alpha playtest, not a finished game. Players explore an open world, fight with blade, bow and magic, form Pacts with Omen Beasts, and play co-op in parties of up to four. Story quests, called Fables, unlock more systems such as crafting, customisation and weapon progression. Soulframe.com says the game has had 16 Preludes updates so far.

New players will arrive alongside the next update, Verse of the Veilands, which Digital Extremes says lands in November. It adds:

  • Omen Wolf mounts: train a wolf pup, purify two Veilands regions, then feed it a Bairnday Biscuit to grow it into a rideable mount.

  • Veilands: a world progression system that unlocks after The Tormented Stag Fable.

  • Ode Shrike: a new Pact with spike traps, enemy-lifting balloon darts, bola chains and a throwing bomb.

  • Bita's Eve: the seasonal event returns with a headless horserider mini-boss, Veltruska, and a limited-time fish, Sunken Terror.

A rider in a hooded cloak on a large grey mount travels along a dirt path through a pine forest on a misty day
Image: Digital Extremes (official Soulframe screenshot, Steam).

Why it matters

Soulframe comes from the studio behind Warframe, one of the longest-running free-to-play games, and follows the same approach of building in public with player feedback. Opening the alpha is the biggest step yet toward a full release, but it isn't that release. Soulframe's Steam page still lists it as "coming soon", and Digital Extremes points Steam users to the wishlist for updates on a "wider PC launch".

Paid Founders bundles with exclusive Pacts, weapons and armour are on sale, but they aren't needed to play. Prices vary by region, so we haven't listed them.

Confirmed and not confirmed

  • Confirmed: free Open Preludes for Windows PC players worldwide from 6 November, no invite needed, and Verse of the Veilands in November.

  • Not confirmed: the 6 November start time, a Steam release date, console versions, and whether alpha progress carries over to the full game.

Steam lists full controller support. If your PlayStation pad misbehaves on PC, see our fix for a PS5 controller not working in PC games, and our guide to moving Steam games to another drive helps free up space. Steam Deck support hasn't been announced; our Steam Deck page has the handheld's specs. Digital Extremes also dated Warframe: Tau for December.

For players in India, the Devstream aired at 1:00 am IST on 31 October, and Open Preludes is free there too.

Sources & verification

Sources last verified on . This article covers published information, not hands-on testing.

Editorial & update notes

First published 31 Oct 2026 with primary-source citations.

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