Digital Extremes is opening Soulframe to all PC players without invitations starting November 6, accompanied by a major content update called Preludes 17. The free fantasy action RPG moves past its closed alpha phase while introducing rideable wolves, overhauled progression mechanics, and cooperative world trees.
The gates to Midrath are swinging wide. Digital Extremes has officially announced that its fantasy action RPG Soulframe will transition into an open alpha test on November 6, dropping the requirement for invitation codes and Founders bundles that previously gated access. Players on PC can jump straight into the action by registering on the official website and downloading the client through the developer’s dedicated launcher. While an eventual Steam launch and console ports are planned down the road, today’s focus remains squarely on expanding the PC testing pool to welcome a massive wave of newcomers.
Preludes 17 Brings Verse of the Veilands to Midrath
Ahead of the public floodgates opening, current testers will get their hands on a substantial content drop. Known as Preludes 17: Verse of the Veilands, the update pushes aside the planned War Songs storyline to prioritize fundamental changes to exploration and core mechanics. Creative director Steve Sinclair noted the value of an active community, stating that the studio operates best when collaborating with a passionate audience ready to point out missteps. The upcoming patch introduces the hostile Ode faction, whose giant siphons drain the life force from seven regions across the island of Midrath.
Cleaning Siphons and Mounting Omen Wolves
To push back the corruption, Envoys must tear down the towering energy-sucking machinery and work alongside local enclaves. The overhauled quest system places faction representatives right next to the siphons, streamlining the path to the final purification rituals. Restoring the land brings back local wildlife, fishing spots, and seasonal Halloween rewards, though clearing zones also triggers a new notoriety mechanic that draws punishing enemy patrols.
Exploration gets a major quality-of-life boost with the arrival of rideable companions. Players who have nurtured their wolf pups can craft a recipe using Barn Biscuit and Verminia to mature them into an Omen Wolf, transforming the creature into a functional mount. Alongside faster travel, the update cuts weapon leveling time in half, drops required rank experience by 50 percent, and introduces the Ode Shrike pact—a trap-and-deception build that replaces the standard kick.
Cooperative Matchmaking and Future Development Goals
Multiplayer synergy sits at the heart of the design philosophy. Lead designer Scott McGregor and creative director Jeff Crooks emphasize that cooperative play defines the project. World trees are already functioning as social hubs where players cross paths, and the team is actively prioritizing public matchmaking for dungeons and quests. Although developers stopped short of guaranteeing that dungeon matchmaking will land precisely with the November 6 patch, streamlining group formation remains an urgent priority as the player base scales up.
