Warframe: Tau is the next major cinematic chapter in Digital Extremes’ long-running free-to-play shooter.
For the first time, the Tenno will travel beyond the Origin System and enter an entirely new binary star system filled with Sentient cities, criminal factions, unfamiliar enemies, and stories connected to the consequences of the Old War.
The update introduces the decaying ring city of Fornax, the noir-inspired Warframe Brysko, a new Sentient enemy faction known as the Fornax Drowners, and Warframe’s first original card game, Portau.
TL;DR – Key Information
- Release date: Later in 2026; the exact day has not been announced.
- Platforms: All platforms currently supported by Warframe.
- Developer and publisher: Digital Extremes.
- Setting: The Tau binary star system and the Sentient ring city of Fornax.
- New Warframe: Brysko, a noir-inspired investigator working with Albrecht Entrati.
- New enemies: The Fornax Drowners and the forces serving the Hunra.
- New activity: Portau, Warframe’s first original card game.
- Story placement: Tau continues the cinematic narrative established by The Old Peace.
Table of Contents
Warframe: Tau Release Date
Warframe: Tau is scheduled to release later in 2026. Digital Extremes has not yet confirmed a specific launch day or month.
The update will arrive after the Fall 2026 content release, Iceblade of Narin, which is set to introduce the game’s 66th Warframe, the Banshee rework, Citrine Prime Access, and additional cosmetic collections.
Warframe: Tau Platforms
Digital Extremes says Tau will arrive on all platforms supported by Warframe. Based on the game’s current platform availability, that includes:
- PC through the standalone launcher, Steam, and Epic Games Store
- PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch
- iOS
- Android on supported devices
Warframe supports cross-platform play and cross-platform save, allowing eligible players to continue using the same account and progression across supported systems.
| Information | Warframe: Tau |
|---|---|
| Release window | Later in 2026 |
| Exact date | Not announced |
| Developer | Digital Extremes |
| Content type | Major cinematic update and new star system |
| Main location | Fornax in the Tau System |
| New Warframe | Brysko |
What Is Warframe: Tau?
Tau is a major expansion of Warframe’s universe that takes the Tenno beyond the boundaries of the Origin System for the first time. The destination is a vast binary star system that has played an important role in Warframe’s lore since the earliest years of the game.
The Sentients were originally created to travel to Tau and prepare it for Orokin colonization. Their rebellion eventually helped trigger the Old War, making Tau one of the most important locations in the history of the Origin System.
The Old Peace allowed players to witness memories connected to Tau’s past. The new update moves the story into its present-day version, revealing what became of the system after the passage of countless ages.
Welcome to the Sentient City of Fornax
The first major destination in Tau is Fornax, a vast orbital ring city that has fallen far from its former glory. Crime, sickness, addiction, corruption, and violence now dominate its streets.
Fornax is divided into areas such as crowded slums, industrial docks, criminal hideouts, and gambling dens. At the center of the city sits a casino controlled by powerful members of the Sentient underworld.
The city is also frequently struck by waves of black rain. This is more than a visual effect: the rain appears to influence the environment and its inhabitants, creating additional danger during missions.
What makes Fornax different?
- A densely populated Sentient metropolis rather than a conventional open landscape.
- A noir-inspired criminal underworld.
- Dynamic black-rain storms with dangerous effects.
- Slums, docks, casinos, and heavily guarded criminal districts.
- A darker and more urban atmosphere than most Warframe locations.
The Fornax Drowners and the Hunra
Players will face a new faction of Sentient enemies called the Fornax Drowners. These enforcers, hired fighters, and street-level criminals have evolved separately from the Sentients encountered in the Origin System.
Their abilities and combat behavior have not yet been fully explained, but Digital Extremes has warned that battles may become more dangerous when the black rain begins to fall.
Above the Drowners stands the Hunra, a brutal criminal kingpin who controls Fornax through violence, intimidation, and the distribution of a substance known as Bloom.
Reaching the Hunra will require the Tenno to fight through his loyalists, investigate his operations, and infiltrate the criminal network surrounding the city’s casino.
Who Is Brysko?
Brysko is the new noir-inspired Warframe introduced with Tau. He works alongside Albrecht Entrati to infiltrate the Sentient criminal underworld and uncover the secrets surrounding Fornax.
Brysko remains silent when interacting with the outside world, but players will hear his internal monologue. This gives him the personality of a cynical detective while preserving the traditionally silent presentation of playable Warframes.
His known signature weapons include:
- Corecracker: an Exalted Pistol designed for precise and powerful ranged attacks.
- Rain & Shine: a pair of heavy fist weapons intended for aggressive close-range combat.
Digital Extremes has not yet revealed Brysko’s complete ability set, passive skill, acquisition method, or crafting requirements.
Portau Is Warframe’s First Original Card Game
Tau introduces Portau, the first original card game created specifically for Warframe. Players will be able to visit card tables inside Fornax’s casino and test their luck against other gamblers.
The game uses four unique suits:
- Blooms
- Cores
- Moons
- Suns
Digital Extremes has not yet explained the complete rules, rewards, progression system, or whether Portau will support multiplayer competition.
Its addition suggests that Fornax will contain more than combat missions. The casino may function as a social and narrative hub where players can interact with the city’s inhabitants between larger objectives.
Do You Need to Complete The Old Peace?
Digital Extremes has not yet published the final quest requirements for entering Tau. However, the update directly continues Warframe’s current cinematic storyline, and The Old Peace establishes important historical context for the journey.
The Old Peace itself requires players to complete the main story through The Lotus Eaters, which becomes available after Whispers in the Walls.
Players who want to fully understand Tau should complete as much of the following story content as possible:
- Whispers in the Walls
- The Lotus Eaters
- The Old Peace
- Any additional story quest released before Tau
Returning players may also want to review the history of the Old War, the Sentients, Albrecht Entrati, the Lotus, and the Indifference before beginning the update.
What Else Is Coming in Warframe: Tau?
Tau is designed as the beginning of a new long-term phase for Warframe rather than a single isolated quest. Digital Extremes has described it as the game’s first entirely new star system, with additional worlds and cinematic stories planned for the future.
Based on the TennoCon demonstration, players can expect:
- A new Tau Star Chart.
- At least two major locations at launch.
- New Sentient factions and enemy types.
- Story missions involving Albrecht Entrati and Brysko.
- Urban exploration across Fornax.
- Black-rain environmental events.
- New weapons, resources, rewards, and progression systems.
- The Portau card game.
- New music, including the track “View From the Top.”
- Future expansion of the Tau System through later updates.
The Tau demonstration also referenced large customizable Vessels connected to the Tenno fleet. Digital Extremes has not yet fully explained how these will function in the final update, but they appear to be part of Warframe’s longer-term expansion beyond the Origin System.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Warframe: Tau release?
Warframe: Tau is scheduled for later in 2026. Digital Extremes has not announced an exact release date.
What platforms will Warframe: Tau be available on?
The update is coming to all platforms supported by Warframe, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and supported Android devices.
Is Tau a new open world?
Digital Extremes describes Tau as an entirely new star system. Fornax is a large Sentient ring city, but the studio has not yet confirmed whether it will use the same open-world structure as locations such as the Plains of Eidolon or Orb Vallis.
Who is the new Warframe in Tau?
The new Warframe is Brysko, a noir-inspired investigator working with Albrecht Entrati. His weapons include the Corecracker Exalted Pistol and the Rain & Shine fist weapons.
What is Portau?
Portau is Warframe’s first original card game. It uses suits called Blooms, Cores, Moons, and Suns and can be played inside the Fornax casino.
Who is the main villain?
The main criminal antagonist revealed so far is the Hunra, a powerful kingpin controlling Fornax through fear, violence, and his network of loyalists.
Will Tau add more locations later?
Yes. Digital Extremes has presented Tau as a long-term new region for Warframe. Another launch location remains unrevealed, and additional worlds and stories are expected in future updates.