The Warframe community is bracing itself for drama. With *The Old Peace* expansion on the horizon next year, inevitably pushing the story in new directions and shedding more light on the tragic history of the Tenno, players have been busy preparing for any potential narrative haymakers coming our way.
These big moments in Warframe’s story often include reveals that reshape how we interpret decade-old lore. As we edge closer to Tau, there’s been a lot of groundwork laid in anticipation of what could be Warframe’s most significant story moment to date. Recent updates have seen major shifts in the narrative and character development—ranging from uncovering the mysteries of Albrecht Entrati and *The Indifference* to the Drifter’s slow reveal of their origins, survival of Duviri, and the toll it took on them. The atmosphere has been tense, and the journey to Tau promises even more emotional turmoil.
### A Lighter Moment Before the Storm: Vallis Undermind and Nokko
For this reason, the recent Vallis Undermind update was designed to be a bit more lighthearted—a relaxed exploration of the tunnels beneath Fortuna, introducing a new playful trickster: the Warframe Nokko. Players also get the chance to, once again, make the Corpus overlord Nef Anyo look like a chump. Perfect.
I sat down with Megan Everett, Warframe’s Community Director, to chat about the update and what might be next for the game.
### Revisiting Old Grounds: Fortuna and Orb Vallis
One thing that stood out to me was how the return to Fortuna and Orb Vallis fits a recent pattern in Warframe: revisiting old in-game geography to bring fresh content to familiar locations.
“I think what’s good about our open worlds is that we don’t restrict ourselves in the way we set them up so they can’t expand,” says Everett. “Like Plains of Eidolon, we kind of went back last year with the Koumei & The Five Fates update, and that’s something we never thought we’d do when we made Plains of Eidolon, right? But it fits the narrative, and I think you see this a lot. When you do these open worlds—when we did Plains or Vallis back in the day—you always hear the comment, ‘Please don’t make this a content island and walk away.’ That’s for sure not our intention, but obviously, we need to pick and choose where we grow the story, and Orb Vallis was one we wanted to revisit.”
For this update, the mission was simple. The team wanted to bring players back to Fortuna and Orb Vallis with an update that was fun—a palette cleanser before more serious business arrives to remind us all that the Origin System is perpetually at war with itself.
### Meet Nokko: Warframe #62 and the Mushroom King
At the heart of this update’s fun vibe is Nokko, the game’s 62nd Warframe, who stands out with his mushroom-themed lore and abilities. Nokko plants small patches of mushrooms that lull enemies to sleep and buff allies, then drops enlarged spores on enemies’ heads that can obliterate them. His idle animations are whimsical and playful, and his ability to bounce around on mushrooms or transform into a tiny fungus called a Sprodling injects a childlike mirth into his playstyle.
Nokko’s unique kit and fun personality have been broadly embraced by the community. But realistically, after 62 Warframes, designing new ones that feel fresh and exciting must be increasingly challenging. I asked Everett if they ever worry that some Warframes might be divisive or turn off parts of the community.
“I think every Warframe falls into that category because there are some I don’t play simply because it’s not my style, but someone else might be absolutely obsessed with them, and that’s fine,” she explains. “That’s why we have 62 now, so you can play the ones you want. After 12 years, we really have to stretch our creative thinking about what a Warframe does that sets it apart.”
Nokko certainly delivers a distinctive gameplay experience. With the right build, he can run missions without needing weapons, blanketing enemies in spores and mushrooms while bringing a fun, youthful energy. Interestingly, Nokko’s origin grew naturally from the desire to revisit Orb Vallis.
“What came first for us was the setting,” Everett says. “Initially, we had a different idea, but it shape-shifted into *The Vallis Undermind*. From wanting to revisit Orb Vallis, we asked: What does Orb Vallis look like? The first thing was mushrooms, because post-*The New War*, there’s still fungi everywhere. So we took that element and ran with it.”
The direction from Reb Ford, Warframe’s Creative Director, was clear: the Warframe and the update “need to feel fun, a bit whimsical,” with Nokko embodying a goofy younger brother vibe akin to Yareli’s. The tile set inspired the Warframe, and the tone of Nokko, in turn, inspired the Deepmines—creating a harmonious design flow.
### The Deepmines: A Polished New Playground
The Deepmines, the tunnels running beneath Fortuna and Nokko’s home, showcase Warframe’s continuous polish and evolution. The game today is dramatically different from when it first launched, with changes both large and small.
Down in the Deepmines, players complete bounties made up of staged tasks, each stage rewarding progress. While bounty systems are not new to Warframe, the execution here is notably smooth, quick, and polished. The space itself encourages fun, leveraging Warframe’s elegant movement systems to help players reach objectives even faster.
I mentioned to Everett how respectful this felt of players’ time, especially in an era when many games reconsider what player engagement means.
Instead of a generic response, Everett shared something exciting about an upcoming mode tied to this philosophy.
### A Sneak Peek at Descendia and The Old Peace
“This Friday’s stream, we’re showcasing a new mode called *The Descendia*,” Everett revealed. “We have a new Warframe coming, Uriel—the devil Warframe—and in this mode, you descend into hell. You face 21 floors; after each floor, you fall to the next, down, down, down, trying to reach floor 21. Along the way, there are escalating challenges, mini-boss fights, checkpoints, rewards, and characters—it’s really cool.”
A mode like Descendia could become a slog without careful design, but given the flow we’ve seen in the Deepmines, I’m optimistic it will strike the right balance between tension and respite.
What awaits at the bottom? Likely either the glory of victory or the ignominy of defeat—as it should be.
### Warframe’s Enduring Strength
Warframe’s core strength lies in building on the past rather than forgetting it. Balancing attention across such a varied game is no easy task, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that Warframe has survived 13 years in a competitive market, where similar games quickly fade away. The reason? The team’s honest and continual efforts to improve the game, combined with a dedicated community always ready to provide feedback.
For now, we can sit back and enjoy Nokko and the Deepmines. With *The Old Peace* looming, all I can think about are those trenches from the trailer, waiting to be filled with the dead and dying. The Vallis Undermind provides a grand distraction before the coming war.
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*Stay tuned to Warframe’s official channels for the upcoming stream and further details on The Old Peace expansion and Descendia mode.*
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146609/warframe-community-director-interview-nokko-vallis-undermind-megan-everett