'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
TennoCon 2024 may have wrapped up, but our content and coverage have not. We’ve still got a few interviews on the way, and memories that will no doubt last a lifetime. I’ve covered Warframe on and off since the game initially launched, and my excitement for the game never waned. This was also the first two-day TennoCon ever, and there was a lot of talk on whether that would help—or for that matter, be worth it.
The short answer is yes, making TennoCon 2024 a two-day affair was the right call, and it could certainly help in other ways going forward. Once Soulframe has grown enough throughout its development cycle, having a day just for it would be interesting. Digital Extremes flew me, alongside other journalists, out early before the event so I could see everything there was to see, tour the studio, and more.
While some of the coverage took place early, such as our interview with Rebb Ford and Megan Everett, we had plenty on our plates while at TennoCon 2024.
Trending
A two-day TennoCon 2024 made it easier for most fans to get their adventure started
One of the most important things is that TennoCon 2024 was a two-day event. The first day was shorter, mostly for fans to come early, get their badges, pick up merch the day before, and take part in an intense VIP party. There was music and karaoke, and it really felt like it was set right in the 1990s. As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s, it was like a trip back in time.
With arcade machines, food, drinks, and gacha capsules with awesome Warframe loot, the first-day experience was a pleasurable one. I talked to several people at the airport—and during the event—who appreciated the ability to come early and take some of the stress off their plates. The merch lines can get fearfully long, so buying it the day before means you don’t have to miss awesome panels and reveals.
However, I hope the Day One experience evolves as time goes on. If nothing else, Digital Extremes is good at listening to their fanbase and responding in kind. The VIP experience was definitely a fun time to catch up with other journalists, and long-time fans of Warframe. TennoCon 2024 was, without exaggeration, the biggest event put on by Digital Extremes yet.
Before everything kicked off though, we also got to tour Digital Extremes studio. Sorry, we couldn’t take photos while inside, so you’ll just have to make do with this photo of me and Ben Starr during the afterparty.
While there, we saw all the announcements and gameplay demos and even got a sneak peek at the musical performance they were putting together for Warframe. The side panels were great; in particular, the TennoGen panel, highlighting how fans can potentially get their designs in-game, with helpful do’s and don’ts.
TennoCon 2024 was jam-packed with fans from all walks of life
I had no idea how massive and hardcore the Warframe fanbase was, and I’ve been around since the beginning. Probably because I’ve never attended a TennoCon before, I didn’t know how easily the developers could pack the convention center. With 3,000 seats in the main hall, people were still somehow standing up in the back of the room.
No matter what was going on, people were there, listening, and cheering on every announcement and reveal. If there’s anything I’ve experienced in my time as a Warframe player, it’s been a supportive community. Even when I first started, people were quick to help me get my feet under me and help me craft a few Warframes.
It wasn’t just kids and young adults, either. It felt like all ages and genders came together to share something we all loved: Awesome robot space ninjas.
The real winner of TennoCon 2024 was Composer Matthew Chalmers - and the fans
While many of the announcements were incredible, for me, the biggest winner was Matthew Chalmers. The composer dropped some great music for Warframe 1999, but his boy band track by “On-Lyne,” Party of Your Lifetime has been stuck in my head for weeks. The little snippet we were teased with wasn’t enough.
He perfectly nailed the flow and design of a 90s-era boy band song, and surprisingly, I can’t stop listening to it. I wasn't (and still am not) a fan of the genre, but there’s something about it that just hits a little bit different. Coupled with the fact that they become a Lich-infested boss encounter, it confirmed what I always knew: Boy bands are evil.
The other real winners were the fans. There were so many amazing announcements during TennoCon 2024—from the romance system in Warframe 1999 to the growth and development of Soulframe. I haven’t had a chance to play Soulframe yet, but it’s on my to-do list, especially after seeing the demo.
Where could TennoCon go in the future?
With the confirmation that TennoCon 2025 will also be a two-day event (July 18-19, 2025), there are so many places they could take it. Depending on how much Soulframe grows between now and then, it would be nice to see the two games get their separate days. Maybe have the tickets/merch early on the first day, and an afternoon of Soulframe, followed by the VIP afterparty, and then the Warframe stuff the next day.
I’ve been a fan of Warframe since the start, and it’s wild to see how far it’s come in almost ten years. It was an incredible event, and I can understand what would make people want to come back over and over. I’m hoping that I can return to Canada next year to mingle with all the great Warframe and Soulframe fans.
