The recent update for Warframe has certainly caused quite a stir amongst the player base, with some praising the changes and others decrying them. Personally, I’ve been taking my time to explore the new features and mechanics and, while there have been a few hits and misses, overall I’ve found the update to be quite enjoyable.
Old Alert System
One of the key changes that Digital Extremes made in the update was to the alert system. Previously, alerts would be randomly listed and would only be available for a short period of time—usually no more than an hour or two. This system was quite transparent, as players could easily monitor the alerts on Twitter or through an app. I found this system to be beneficial, as it allowed me to manage my time more efficiently. I didn’t feel rushed to complete alerts and, if I missed one that I was interested in, such as Kavat genetic codes, I knew that it would be relisted again within the month. By looking at the history of alerts, players could even approximate when a particular item would be available again.
Overall, the system gave players more flexibility and choice in how they played the game, and that was a positive experience for me.
New Alert System
The recent update to Warframe, The Wolf of Saturn 6, has brought about significant changes to the game’s alert system. Rather than being a random occurrence with a short window of time, the alert system is now a six-week event featuring 30 reward tiers, each requiring 10,000 standing to unlock. Players have six weeks to complete daily or weekly tasks, known as acts, to earn enough standing to progress through the reward tiers.
One of the new rewards introduced in this system is a currency called Wolf Creds, which can be used to purchase specific items within Nora’s shop. For example, players can use 75 Wolf Creds to purchase an Orokin Reactor. The catch, however, is that these creds must be used before the event ends, or they will be lost and players will have to earn them again.
The new system also brings a fresh injection of lore to the game with a new narrator, which is a nice touch, and it provides new players with more direction and guidance on how to progress in the game. At the end of the six-week event, a new event begins, bringing new rewards and new challenges.
While I do acknowledge that the old system had room for improvement, I wouldn’t say that the new system is “bad” per se. However, I do have some issues with it.
Previously, I had the freedom to play the game as I pleased, and I didn’t feel pressured to complete certain tasks, as I knew that alerts would be relisted in a month. Now, with the new event-based system, I feel like I’ve lost some flexibility over how I spend my time in Warframe. The added pressure to progress through the reward tiers and not “miss out” on rewards diminishes some fun and freedom that I used to have in the game. Sure, I know that it is providing more direction for progression and guiding new players, but for me, the freedom to play and do what I enjoyed was a big part of my experience in Warframe.
