A Warframe with glowing blue armour above the Devstream 199 logo and the date November 27 at 2 p.m. ET
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Warframe: Tau Release Date Is December 2026: Brysko, Fornax, Perita and Everything From Devstream 198

Warframe: Tau launches in December 2026 on all platforms, free. Brysko's abilities, Fornax, Perita, the new quest and when Devstream 199 reveals more.

By David Ware 4 min read
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Image: Digital Extremes
Warframe key art showing armoured Warframes around a seated figure in a glowing cavern
Image: Digital Extremes

Warframe Tau is coming in December 2026 to all platforms, Digital Extremes has confirmed on the official Warframe: Tau page. It's Warframe's next big free update and its biggest step yet: a brand-new Tau star system beyond the Origin System, a new cinematic quest, two new zones (Fornax and Perita) and the 67th Warframe, the detective Brysko. The exact date hasn't been announced; Digital Extremes' last Devstream of 2026, Devstream 199 on 27 November, will show more.

Warframe: Tau at a glance

ReleaseDecember 2026 (exact date not announced)
PriceFree update (Warframe is free to play)
PlatformsPC (Steam, Epic, standalone), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
New WarframeBrysko (the 67th), a detective with a Hound companion
New zonesFornax (Sentient ring city) and Perita (desert moon)
QuestNew cinematic quest, about 2-3 hours (tentative)
Next revealDevstream 199, 27 November, 2pm ET (19:00 GMT / 20:00 CET)

When is the Warframe Tau release date?

Digital Extremes says "Coming December 2026 to All Platforms". No exact day has been given yet. The Devstream 199 announcement promises more on Tau's game modes, the Highway system and Tau Steel Path, plus the next Prime Trailer.

What is Warframe: Tau?

Tau takes the Tenno outside the Origin System for the first time, to a binary star system with twin suns and its own new Star Chart. According to the Devstream 198 overview, it launches with a new cinematic quest (tentatively 2-3 hours, with the Prologue to Tau quest recommended first), two playable zones, new mechanics and new Syndicates. Digital Extremes says more destinations will come in later updates.

What is Fornax?

Fornax is a Sentient ring city "blighted by crime, sickness and treachery", soaked in black rain with a casino at its heart. It has three connected hubs, including the Lastbloom Lounge, and each hub has a garage leading to a highway that links all three. Grapple points help you get around, though falling has serious consequences. The new enemies are the Fornax Drowners, Sentient enforcers working for the Hunra, a Sentient kingpin who runs the city's rackets. In Tau's Steel Path, the Hunra's underlings replace the usual Acolytes.

What is Perita?

Perita is a sandstorm-ridden desert moon, home to feuding Dazannah clans. The last unconquered clan is in danger, and the chieftain's son, Catulast, asks the Tenno for help (he belongs to a new Syndicate, The Cleaving Glaive). Perita has about six missions at launch and a new environmental hazard. Digital Extremes also says ten Prime Warframe sets will be permanently unvaulted, with their Relics added as Perita rewards.

What are Brysko's abilities?

Brysko is the 67th Warframe: a gumshoe detective from Fornax's underworld with a loyal Hound companion, and the first Chimera Warframe. Digital Extremes stresses his abilities are still in development and may change:

  • Passive: when downed, you control the Hound to collect Sentient core fragments and bring Brysko back.
  • Ability 1: throws exploding Portau cards that deal Electric damage and status effects after a short delay.
  • Ability 2: the Hound locks down an area, lifting enemies and pulling them in, with damage on trapped enemies periodically shared.
  • Ability 3: lifesteal and a buff for Brysko and the Hound, at the cost of damage over time (holding the ability removes the health drain).
  • Ability 4: Corecracker, a revolver whose kills spawn a "pseudo-core" that blasts nearby enemies; its alt-fire is a fan-spread hammer shot.

Brysko can be unlocked instantly from the Market or earned through play. He also brings the Chimera Skin, the first of a new class of premium customisations.

What is Portau?

Portau is Warframe's first original card game, played at the casino tables of Fornax, with four suits: Blooms, Cores, Moons and Suns. Brysko's first ability throws Portau cards, and Devstream 199 will cover the game in more detail.

A Warframe with glowing blue armour above the Devstream 199 logo and the date November 27 at 2 p.m. ET
Image: Digital Extremes

When is Warframe Devstream 199?

Friday, 27 November 2026 at 2pm ET (19:00 GMT / 20:00 CET) on twitch.tv/warframe. It's billed as "Tau Part Two" and the last Devstream of 2026, covering Tau's game modes, the Highway system, Tau Steel Path and a new Prime Trailer. Watching start to finish earns an Omni Forma (built) Twitch Drop. It's a double bill: Soulframe Devstream 19 follows at 3:30pm ET.

Is the Taubound event still running?

Yes, until 17 November. Epoch Operation: Taubound is a one-time community-wide operation leading into the Tau update.

Is Warframe: Tau free?

Yes. Warframe is free to play and Tau is a free update. Brysko can be earned in-game; cosmetics like the Chimera Skin are optional. Cross-platform save and play are supported.

Is there a Warframe: Tau trailer?

Digital Extremes revealed Tau with a trailer and gameplay demo at TennoCon 2026. Official trailers play on the Warframe Steam page and the official Tau page.

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David Ware
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David Ware

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1,126 articlesWriting for iGame since 2024

David Ware is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of iGame Magazine. Since 2024 he has built igamemag.com into a trusted online destination for gamers and tech enthusiasts, covering the latest gaming news, in-depth game reviews, hardware and tech breakdowns, and practical guides.

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