Every year, Digital Extremes hosts its annual fan-fueled event, TennoCon, in London, Ontario, Canada. TennoCon is home to many things for Warframe, and now, Soulframe. Digital Extremes has made this event into their day to also host big reveals that would fit an E3 or Summer Games Fest. As far back as I can remember, expansions such as the Plains of Eidolon, Fortuna, Railjack, The Duviri Paradox, and Warframe: 1999 were all revealed to their fanbase at each annual TennoCon. This tradition was kept with TennoCon 2025, as they had a whole slew of new reveals for both of their games.
For Soulframe, Digital Extreme showcased 30 minutes of new gameplay for their next major quest, two new boss fights, and some new enemies within a new dungeon in Devstream 8. It was an exciting showcase for players in the Preludes program. Especially when they announced they were letting everyone into that same program for a few days to help shape the game’s future. But for Warframe, that future is already set in stone. Seeing as Digital Extremes showcased a whole heap of new updates during TennoLive in TennoCon 2025.
Whether that was the unannounced fall update, the upcoming end-of-year expansion-sized update, The Old Peace, or the promise of going to the Tau system next year, Digital Extreme did not disappoint Tenno on their 10th anniversary of the convention. But between all of the hype moments, skits, fun times, panels, and reveals for Digital Extremes games is a whole convention center that withstood thousands of Tenno over the course of two days this year.
Of Charities and Community Care
Last year, at TennoCon 2024, Digital Extremes opened up the event by announcing they were collectively donating $200,000 CAD between “The AbleGamers Charity” and “SickKids Foundation“. This year, Digital Extremes opened by announcing a similar donation between both the “Canadian Mental Health Association” and “Make a Wish Canada“. The Make a Wish donation was made even more heartfelt after James Collin, the voice of Ollie in Warframe: 1999, was able to take center stage to thank Digital Extremes for their partnership with Make a Wish to become that voice, and the community for welcoming him warmly in-game and even approaching him for autographs.
Outside of the main stage at the RBC Place convention center were some of the usual findings. Obviously, there was no shortage of crowds of Tenno respectfully navigating between lovingly placed “photo ops” such as the starter warframes kneeling near the lotus flowers, or a Dominus Thrax statue from The Duviri Paradox, and various other places within the convention center.
Last year, I was able to try some of the standard convention food lovingly named after references in Warframe, and was impressed considering the price. This year, I was able not only to see an updated menu, but also more options outside of the convention center.
Outside of the RBC Place was an assortment of food trucks that gave some variety to Tenno who were looking for something to whet their appetite. Whether it be Hot Dogs or Ice cream, a little more variety went a long way. There were also Cetus-themed places to sit and munch before returning for more of the convention’s panels themselves.
A Marketplace and Place to Chill
The second floor of the RBC Place hosts the main stage, a place to order food indoors, and photo ops. The ground floor was home to two of my favorite places where I found a strangely relaxing time. The first was the “Arsenal” merchandise shop. The pickings for merchandise this year included a ton of plushies, statues, shirts, and posters. As well as an assortment of pins and other little goodies, like the Grimoire notebook that I happily purchased without a second thought.
Despite being a very busy area, being able to have enough space to breathe and stock to ensure I got the right sizes for the stuff I bought was a relief.
The second place was a designated “rest and relaxation” zone called the Soulframe Zen Room. It was home to appropriate decorations themed around the game, like the respawn shrines, and even a mini waterfall that offered nice background noise to get away from the hustle and bustle.
The Zen Room is a great touch they kept from last year, as attendees do not have to go outside to get away from the feeling of being overwhelmed. They can instead just relax in a room specifically built for that need.
Art, Crafts, and a Memorial
Also on the ground floor at TennoCon 2025 was a museum that was home to fan art, fan creations, and cosplay outfits, with something more. An assortment of fan art was on display with care, and multiple rows that featured such pieces as Oraxia making a move on Titania, or Lettie from Warframe: 1999 meeting with Verminia from Soulframe.
A ton of lovingly crafted fan creations were on display as well. Such as a 1999 Kitty Speaker, the Snipetron Vandal, and the Sollos-I from Soulframe. Mixing together the passion from creators from both of their games communities in one space.
But that was not all, as there were cosplay outfits for Aoi, Lotus, and Loid on display alongside a memorial for the now departed Mike “Mynki” Brennan. The same memorial that was placed in Warframe: 1999 was made 1:1 in honor of his memory.
Mynki was the artist responsible for so much of the visual identity for Warframe. Whether it was the concept of Primes or the recently launched Technocyte Coda, Mynki had a far and lasting reach for Digital Extremes’ hallmark game. Right down to the upcoming Uriel warframe in the end-of-year update, The Old Peace.
“We are Tenno, We Believe”
TennoCon 2025 is not just a place for Tenno to hang out, buy merch, food, and look at fan art from many of Warframe’s talented fan artists. It is a place laden with memories, love, and care from the convention staff. Manned registers for the merch store, food served with a smile, and spaces to remember the past are just a few bits of the experience. All of it culminated in incredible reveals for both game and insightful panels that rallied the players together with hype for what they would see later on in the day during TennoLive.
TennoCon 2025 was not just another standard routine convention for Digital Extremes. The day before, they hosted their first-ever TennoConcert, which was the show of a lifetime in the Canada Life Place arena. Setting the tone of remembrance and honor that leads into Soulframe, kicking off the day of gameplay reveals. Sticking the landing with not only a return to the Operator story, but a promise of Tau that felt like a long time coming for Warframe lore fiends.
As someone who was able to experience it all in person, thanks to Digital Extremes providing an invitation to Lords of Gaming to attend as media, all that can be said is that the energy you could feel in the streams was felt tenfold in person. There is no other convention like TennoCon, and Digital Extremes hit a home run with TennoCon 2025.
